20/7/2010 - Royal welcome for repaired Cockermouth footbridge : Cumbria County Council

A footbridge which partially collapsed in the November 2009 floods got a royal seal of approval today when Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque on the bridge marking its rebuilding.

Millers Bridge, as it is known in Cockermouth (official maps refer to it as Harris Bridge), suffered severe damage in the floods and a section of it collapsed into the River Derwent. Part of the bridge had to be rebuilt to fit the new shape of the river banks, which were heavily eroded during the floods and have now been fortified.

The steel bridge, which has been extended by 2.5 metres, was lowered into place last Friday (July 16th) ready for the royal arrival.

HRH The Princess Royal was visiting Cumbria today to see progress on how Cockermouth is recovering from the November floods, and also to support Save the Children, the charity of which she is President, by visiting their shops in Penrith and Cockermouth.

She was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria, James Cropper, and met a number of local dignitaries, including Cumbria County Council's Chairman, Cllr Bert Richardson.

At the bridge plaque unveiling ceremony, the Princess Royal was also met by Cumbria County Council representatives including Chief Executive, Jill Stannard; Corporate Director for Environment, Marie Fallon; and Project Manager, Jason Dixey.

As well as being repaired, Millers Bridge is also being improved as part of a £150,000 works programme. Local firm James Walker contributed to the Cumbria Community Foundation to pay for new lighting arches which will be placed on the bridge this month, while Cumbria County Council prioritised paying for the repair work alongside Navvies footbridge in Workington in its 2010/11 Budget agreed in February.

The repair work is being carried out by Workington-based contractors Stobbarts, who were contracted by Amey on behalf of Cumbria County Council. The bridge will remain closed for around a fortnight while finishing works are carried out, including: installing the new lighting arches; resurfacing the bridge; landscaping the approach path on the north side; stone facing on the bridge abutment. Millers Bridge will be opened to the public as soon as possible, but the current work programme anticipates it will open at the beginning of August.

Cllr Bert Richardson, Chairman of Cumbria County Council, said:

"The royal visit was another welcome boost for Cockermouth. An incredible amount of hard work has gone into restoring the town, which is sending the message out far and wide that it is back on its feet and open for business."

Jill Stannard, chief executive of Cumbria County Council, said:

"Repairing Millers Bridge is another landmark in our flood recovery programme. Not only have we repaired it, but we're also improving it, with the new lighting arches, repainting and resurfacing. When the bridge opens to the public in a couple of weeks it will be something the town of Cockermouth can be proud of once again."