The Iron Bridge Project Diary

[admin]

The Viewing Platform is nearing completion with just the railings to install next week:

http://visitmarple.co.uk/photos/thumbnails.php?album=lastup&cat=-52

[admin]

Iron Bridge Viewing Platform railings are now installed and awaiting final paint and scaffold removal.

http://visitmarple.co.uk/photos/thumbnails.php?album=lastup&cat=-52

[admin]

The Iron Bridge Viewing Platform is now completed and yesterday was the first opportunity to take some photos. I must admit to being very pleased with the result: www.marple-uk.com/ironbridge

[Lisa Oldham]

its lovely... and has the "stump" been recoated?  was going to suggest something be done as it was looking a bit tired!

Can you tell me how it was financed Mark? I'm an everyday user of Brabyns and I've had a lot of comments about it.. in particular the use of money on it when things like the dog bins have been removed and the road is so worn out. Theres a lot of frustration amongst park users there at mo and i suppose _to a degree_ ..human nature and all that.. theyve forgotten how awful it all was before you and yours got your hands on it!
 

[admin]

The stump hasn't been retreated yet but I have a tin of the stuff we use on the tree sculptures in Memorial Park ready for a suitable weather window.

Most of the money spent on this is from the HLF grant of £427,700 we were awarded to restore the bridge and wasn't available to spend on something else instead. I did put an explanation in the Diary:

A design for the improvements was agreed way back in September 2009 but allocating the funds to implement the works has been a problem because it was never in the original budget for the project. This is because the opportunity for a viewing platform only arose following the unfortunate demise of the large beech tree near to the bridge and our decision to mount the plaque on it.

The total cost of the improvement works is £16,391 and it has largely being funded by the reallocation of money in the original budget for the proposed short drama film by Fusion Films. This ran into difficulties with escalating costs and it was eventually agreed with the HLF to cancel it and divert the funds of £12,491 to the Viewing Platform. The balance is made up from the 2008 Unilever Dragonfly Award of £2,500 given to Peter and me by the Mersey Basin Trust, £250 was contributed by Marple Civic Society and the £1,143 shortfall was covered by Stockport Council.

[Lisa Oldham]

thanks Mark.. i ll read that a few times so i can quote it chapter and verse! 

Guess the workmen much have brushed the growths off the stump!

[admin]

I'm pleased to report that a significant step forward has been made on the final outstanding task of the Iron Bridge Restoration Project this week with the production of a sound recording by the Carver Theatre for a listening post that will be installed at the bridge.

The post should be installed in the coming weeks (before Christmas I hope) but in the meantime you can listen to the recording on-line in the Iron Bridge Project Diary:

www.marple-uk.com/ironbridge

A very big thank you to Elizabeth Galloway, who is the lady speaking, and John Woodruff for the technical aspects of the recording, done in his studio. Elizabeth and John are both members of the Carver Theatre and are also involved in Marple Moments, who have a community page on The Marple Website.

This has been a fine example of local community groups helping each other out in Marple.

www.carvertheatre.co.uk
www.marplemoments.co.uk

[admin]

The Iron Bridge Listening Post has now been installed:

http://www.marple-uk.com/ironbridge/

Who will be the first to listen to it?