Great Musgrave Bridge

Formerly handsome Victorian bridge - suffocated by National Highways in an act of cultural vandalism - keen to breathe the crisp Cumbrian air once again.

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

Are you sitting down?
The cost of removing the infill from #GreatMusgraveBridge has been revealed.
£352,000.
So @NationalHways spent almost half-a-million pounds damaging a bridge that, before infilling, was fundamentally fine.
Time for a better custodian.
https://t.co/qJS7QpChNA

[BBC North East @BBCNEandCumbria]

Great Musgrave Bridge, in Cumbria, is to open without weight restrictions after the removal of concrete infill
https://t.co/FF5vptAx7T

[Great Musgrave Bridge @MusgraveBridge]

Well, that's a relief.

[Great Musgrave Bridge @MusgraveBridge]

Congratulations #ConghamBridge. Welcome to the club!
There is life after 'emergency' infill!

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

The TRUE story of @NationalHways infilling scheme at #GreatMusgraveBridge, using EVIDENCE to dismantle the distorted narrative contrived by our state-owned roads company in an attempt to justify its vandalism.

https://t.co/Hc73izo0M8

[Great Musgrave Bridge @MusgraveBridge]

Phew!

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

Good to see #GreatMusgraveBridge looking more like its old self.
Damage to the face of one stone block looks recent, probably caused by breaking out @NationalHways emergency concrete. We expect this will result in the structure being assessed as having a capacity of ten feathers!

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

A fabulous piece from @matthew_weaver in the @guardian this morning on @NationalHways ongoing work to remove the infill from #GreatMusgraveBridge.
Will they ever provide honest answers to the questions we posed?
#DontHoldYourBreath
https://t.co/PNpKQURuZ4

[Great Musgrave Bridge @MusgraveBridge]

It's like being at the dentist. Those drills bloody hurt! And where's the anaesthetic?

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

A fabulous piece from @matthew_weaver in the @guardian this morning on @NationalHways ongoing work to remove the infill from #GreatMusgraveBridge.
Will they ever provide honest answers to the questions we posed?
#DontHoldYourBreath
https://t.co/PNpKQURuZ4

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

As the infill goes, we reflect on @NationalHways claims about #GreatMusgraveBridge, such as implying that @EdenCouncil didn't intervene until the infilling was largely complete, when it actually asked for the work NOT TO START!
Read our full report here:
https://t.co/CM3B01S4c6

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

As the infill goes, we reflect on @NationalHways claims about #GreatMusgraveBridge, such as stating that a structure with very minor defects had to be infilled "to prevent the failure of the bridge and avert a collapse".
Read our full report here:
https://t.co/CM3B01Rwmy

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

As the infill goes, we reflect on @NationalHways claims about #GreatMusgraveBridge, such as stating that 38% of the mortar had been lost from joints in the arch when the evidence related to just one irrelevant perpend joint.
Read our full report here:
https://t.co/CM3B01Rwmy

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

As the infill goes, we reflect on @NationalHways claims about #GreatMusgraveBridge, such as asserting "substantial movement of stones in the arch" despite having no legitimate evidence of any movement for many decades.
Read our full report here:
https://t.co/CM3B01S4c6

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

As the infill goes, we reflect on @NationalHways claims about #GreatMusgraveBridge, such as wrongly alleging it had prior dialogue about the scheme with two heritage railways who intended to relay the track beneath it.
Read our full report here:
https://t.co/CM3B01S4c6

[Great Musgrave Bridge @MusgraveBridge]

I need to protect my image rights. This is sooooo ugly.

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

Coverage on @BBCNews of @NationalHways decision to close the road over #GreatMusgraveBridge while it removes the infill it shouldn't have installed in the first place.
We're told the Parish Council has sent a letter of complaint to NH's Chief Exec and MPs.
https://t.co/wyb76O1EP5

[Great Musgrave Bridge @MusgraveBridge]

Well, that takes the weight off! Three months' holiday while the builders are in. First one in 160 years!

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

Communities around #GreatMusgraveBridge face 13 WEEKS disruption while @NationalHways close the road for infill removal!
Farms & school bus affected; businesses lose passing trade.
Unacceptable.
@DrNeilHudson @CumbriaCC @TCIndex @BBC_Cumbria @CumbriaCrack
https://t.co/cRfO1W1WmN

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

So, Great @MusgraveBridge has cleared out the shed and bought some big shovels, but, with 160 days before the infill removal deadline, there's no sign of @NationalHways.
Perhaps the contractor is waiting for a skip or still busy with Mrs McIrwin's kitchen extension.
#TickTock

[Great Musgrave Bridge @MusgraveBridge]

My emergency came in the form of a perpend joint with 38% of its mortar missing. They should have rung Fire & Rescue...

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

The relevant local planning authorities have confirmed that @NationalHways is expected to submit a retrospective planning application for the 'emergency' infill scheme at Congham, Norfolk shortly and at Rudgate, North Yorkshire by the end of June.
NH's resistance clearly failed.

[Ryan Hogg @rh52d]

Such a blessing that the @theHREgroup raised awareness of the #HistoricalRailwaysEstate with bridges such as #RugleyBridge near #Alnwick hopefully seeing new future with #BorderlineGreenway in near future. (This was once Alnwick to #Cornhill/#Coldstream line). #DisusedRailways

[Great Musgrave Bridge @MusgraveBridge]

What is taking them so long?
Reluctance?

[The HRE Group @theHREgroup]

The former Bridport Railway - inc Barrowland Lane bridge - features on the Dorset Historic Environment Record and passes through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Reopening it as an active travel route would boost the local economy and benefit physical/mental health.