Anger as 150 year-old canal bridge is taken down

Daisy Nook Country Park - Pinch Farm Footbridge before it was demolished

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CANAL enthusiasts are furious with Oldham Council after a 150-year-old iconic bridge was taken down without warning.

Members of the Hollinwood Canal Society expressed their shock and anger that Oldham Council sent in a team to remove the historic Pinch Farm footbridge that crossed the Holinwood branch canal. The canal society says the lattice-sided iron bridge has been a well-loved landmark for generations of local people walking along the towpath through Daisy Nook near Crime Lake.

And now local MPs Jim McMahon and Angela Rayner have expressed their concern over the demolition of the bridge.

With the condition of the bridge deteriorating in recent years and with health and safety a growing concern, Oldham Council officers decided in August last year that it should be demolished ­- but it was not until April this year that it was taken down.

The Hollinwood Canal Society is critical of Oldham Council for allowing the bridge to get into such a condition.

Ian Davenport, Hollinwood Canal Society chairman, said: "The bridge was a well-known landmark and part of the history of the area. It had a very pleasing design but its appearance has been spoilt in recent years by evident signs of neglect.

"We appreciate that health and safety is important but so is our heritage. A small amount of money each year could have helped to ensure that this piece of history was not lost."

Oldham Council accepts it could have liaised better with residents, ward councillors and the canal society and has made steps to improve communication on such matters in the future.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and co-operatives, said: "Oldham Council demolished Pinch Farm Bridge because inspections carried out over a number of years found its condition was deteriorating, due to its age and a spate of vandalism.

"Demolition was approved in August last year. We carried out the work in April once the bad weather stopped and following the award of the works tender.

"The decision to keep the towpath open was made because the bridge's condition was not at risk of imminent collapse and by closing a public right of way we'd have been inconveniencing towpath users as the diversion route is lengthy.

Ashton MP Ms Rayner, in whose constituency the canal lies, had previously arranged to meet with canal society members to see the historic features in the country park. She was dismayed to see what was left of the bridge during a recent visit.

Failsworth East councillor and MP for Oldham West and Royton, Mr McMahon says the heritage of the bridge was not considered.

Speaking as a local councillor, Mr McMahon said: "The bridge was an important part of the heritage of Daisy Nook country park. There is no doubt it was in a poor state of repair but it is clear that the council didn't consider the heritage.

"We could have moved the bridge somewhere in the park to give people an experience of its history."

Mr McMahon, in his capacity as a Failsworth East councillor, has made formal representations to the council on the issue.

Although it did not carry a public right of way, it was an accommodation bridge providing access between the two parts of the Pinch Farm property.

When the canal was built in 1797, it cut the farm in two, so a wooden bridge was built to provide access.

This was replaced by the iron lattice bridge around 1860 by the railway company that owned the canal at that time, which was why it was similar in appearance to a railway footbridge.

When Oldham Council took over ownership of the canal within Daisy Nook Country Park more than 40 years ago, it inherited the responsibility of maintaining the bridge.

Councillor Brownridge added: "We accept we could have liaised better with residents, ward councillors and the canal society and users during the demolition stage, and we have taken this on board.

"We have subsequently met with members of a range of canal societies, including the Hollinwood Canal Society, and there is now an agreement from all parties to communicate more frequently and openly regarding matters such as this."