Three bridges have been replaced in a Cumbrian wood after four years.
Westmorland & Furness Council’s countryside access team have worked with landowners to replace the bridges in Swindale Wood, near Brough, after the bridleway had been inaccessible for four years.
One of the larger bridges had been partially washed out and the remainder was removed, a 8.4m bridge had become rotten in that time, and a smaller sleeper bridge had also been washed away.
The work was prompted after the issue was raised by Councillor Graham Simpkins and at the Appleby and Brough Place Action Group.
Westmorland & Furness Council said: “The location meant replacing the larger bridge was a challenge. The access track is steep and narrow and as the woodland it passes through is a Site of Special Scientific Interest there were restrictions on improving the access to get a new bridge in.
“The path also floods when the river is high so the bridge needed to be elevated.
“It was decided that the safest way to get the 14m long beams in to site was by heli-lift, which had to be done in winter when the trees were not in leaf. ”
Installation of the bridges was carried out by Lakes and Dales Countryside and Landscaping Services.
The shorter bridge was installed over the summer and the longer bridge being installed in early December.
The cost of the installation was £30,850 from the council’s Structures Capital Public Rights of Way budget.
The two larger bridges were bought from Brampton Woodworks using the Sustainable Travel Fund, for a total of £16,800
The shortest bridge was a 5m sleeper bridge.
Timber steps were also installed to improve accessibility down to the bridleway, this was also installed by Lakes and Dales Countryside and Landscaping Services for £4,620 in February last year using the council’s Public Rights of Way maintenance budget.
