3525

Please ask for: Mr J R Davies

Councillor Martin Candler

C/O Town Hall

Stockport

My Ref: EEDIPNG/JRD/DKHIDS2O                                               19 July 2001

Dear Councillor Candler,

IRON BRIDGE, BRABYNS PARK, MARPLE

I write further to my recent letter to you and the information that I since have obtained following upon my enquiries of relevant officers in this and other local authorities and also in English Heritage.

According to John Rowland — the Head of the Countryside Maintenance Unit in the Stockport Community Services Division: with a view to enabling action by the Council in partnership with local historical and civic societies to restore the bridge, exploratory investigations are being undertaken. These are to ascertain:  

(a) the best ways in which defects in the original cast-iron bridge structure can be repaired,

and

(b) the cost there from as hopefully substantially funded via a Council supported HLF grant application bid.

Brian Richardson — a Project Engineer in the Highways and Structures Group in the Engineering Services Section of the Division of Environment and Economic Development, has approached a specialist contractor to provide a preliminary assessment on the undertaking of effective repairs to the bridge structure with the likely cost estimate. Accordingly, a representative of this firm has visited the bridge with John Rowland and Brian Richardson on Thursday afternoon – 12th July 2001. This firm has referred to their work on the "Tickford Bridge" at Newport Pagnell in the Milton Keynes area. They have worked with English Heritage staff in regard to the repair and restoration of this more complex, intricately cast and more detailed iron bridge structure. This is a good recommendation for their expertise, as is the fact that English Heritage have commissioned them to carry out restoration and strengthening works on the world heritage "Iron Bridge" over the River Severn in Shropshire. I have made my own enquiries of English Heritage and the relevant officers in the Milton Keynes Council as to the performance of this firm. I have given the name and phone number of the Bridges and Engineering Design Manager in that Authority to Brian so that he can discuss with them the restoration/repair works to the "Tickford Bridge", as most relevant to our bridge in Brabyns Park. Brian will be reporting back to John Rowland and myself, giving some idea on the likely cost of restoration. John — as the co-ordinating officer on this exploratory investigation will, I understand, be reporting to his Director and to the appropriate Committee(s) of the Council in due course. I have sent both to him and Brian Richardson a copy of this letter to you, and in accordance with your previous request, one also to Mr Clarke of 8 Waterside, Marple. John Rowland will keep you updated on this matter.

Yours sincerely

John R Davies

Project Specialist (Conservation)

Copies to: John Rowland — CD

Brian Richardson - DEED

Peter Clarke, 8 Waterside, Marple

and File D520