Divers due to start work on bridge

Divers are due to start work next week on the bridge's foundations.

The well-used bridge spans the River Derwent and links Main Street with Memorial Gardens and Wakefield Road.

The county council closed it on Monday last week without warning after it was deemed unsafe. 

A survey had highlighted damage which was undermining the stone foundation which stands in the river.

The Environment Agency has now given consent for repair works to be carried out in the river.

A county council spokesman said: “We are hoping to start this work next week, possibly as early as on Monday, once some specialist equipment that’s required is delivered on site. 

"The start date however, will also depend on river levels and flows as the work predominantly involves underwater diving. 

"We expect the work to take about 10 days to complete and then hope to be able to reopen the bridge to the public."

In the meantime, Allerdale council has put on a free bus service to help residents and workers affected by the bridge closure.

It will run every day apart from Sunday, between 9.15am and 2.15pm, on a circuit which includes Wakefield Road, Main Street, Cockermouth Community Hospital, Station Street and Sainsbury’s.

It will be trialled for one month, or until the work is completed. 

Councillor Alan Smith, leader of Allerdale council, said: "The closure is bad news for older people who live in the Gote Road sheltered housing in particular, but also for those who work in the nearby industrial areas who have limited time to walk into town on their lunch breaks. 

“We don’t want to see people struggling to do their shopping or get to the hospital, nor do we want the businesses in town to suffer if people can’t reach them as easily. 

"We know the bridge repair work needs to be done – we just want to make life as easy as possible for our residents until it is completed.” 

Those wishing to use the bus should look out for an Ellenvale bus with a Millers Crossing Bus sign.