Entertainment at Bingley fun day will go ahead (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Entertainment at Bingley fun day will go ahead

4:40am Thursday 17th June 2010

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The re-opening of Bingley’s historic Ireland Bridge has been delayed by more than a week because of heavy rain.

Bradford Council had announced it would be open to traffic this Saturday and a family fun day has been planned to mark the completion of the £1.6 million project.

Children’s events will still go ahead on Saturday but a Bradford Council spokesman said the opening of the bridge has now been put back to Monday, June 28.

Bad weather has held up construction at The Twines, which runs down from the St Ives estate to the bridge, the Council spokesman said.

Bingley Conservative Councillor John Pennington said: “It is a shame that we didn’t have a bit more joined-up thinking. The work to the bridge was essential, as we know, but I wouldn’t have issued an opening date in the first place if work was not going to be completed by that date.”

However, he added: “People will be pleased and surprised at the improvements made to The Twines’ vehicle access and footpath. The contractors have worked very hard to bring it up to modern standards.”

The major scheme was designed by Bradford Council’s Highways Structures Unit and the 24-week contract was carried out by Eric Wright Civil Engineering.

It was discovered that the arches of the 17th century bridge were too weak to safely carry vehicles and the parapets and supporting walls were unstable and needed strengthening to carry two lanes of 40-tonne traffic.

Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq, executive member for environment and sustainability, said: “The Council has worked closely with English Heritage to ensure the bridge maintained its original appearance and each stone was numbered before being taken down and rebuilt in its original location.”

The work on the bridge was due to start last July but was delayed when it was discovered that protected Daubenton’s bats were roosting in the arches.

While the arches were strengthened, the bats were relocated to bat boxes following advice from Natural England. About 200 bats are now back breeding in the bridge again.

Bingley town centre manager, David Dinsey, confirmed that children’s events including two roundabouts and a land train would be in the town centre at 10am on Saturday. A clown performing magic and balloon modelling will entertain from 11am to 2pm.

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