WITH reference to the correspondence regarding Stockton Lane closure and your article A bridge too far?' Councillor Biggin was instrumental in having Stockton Lane closed having tragically lost a daughter in an accident.

The recent Liberal Party newssheet Focus has on its front page an article lamenting the increased level of traffic and, in particular, the number of heavy goods vehicles using Broad Lane to access Grappenhall Village.

Well you cannot have it both ways.

The closure of Stockton Lane means that there is now only one access suitable for heavy goods vehicles and that is Broad Lane.

Having attended a meeting regarding the closure, it was obvious that the council did not have the funds to solve the problem.

What has happened is that the road has been closed at the dangerous bend near the Bridgewater Canal at the western end of the lane and misleading signage has been erected.

However, there is a similar situation where the lane is adjacent to the canal at the eastern end.

If there is an accident there, will it mean the lane will have to be closed there as well, thus isolating both the residents and the sports club?

Joking aside, the closure has severe safety implications for residents of Stockton Lane and the new sports club.

For instance how, if there is a HGV delivering to the house at the east end of the lane (or, as recently happened, a resident was having a septic tank emptied) do fire engines and ambulances gain access to the houses or the club?

The idea of the reopening of Latchford railway bridge to foot/bicycle traffic has obviously not been well thought through.

The bridge has been closed and has not been maintained for approximately 20 years.

Before any thought is given to reopening it, there should be a full structural survey and assessment of both the bridge and its abutments.

Given that the bridge is 30 metres above the canal, this will not be an easy task as it will involve working at height, safety craft on the canal etc.

I believe that costs in the hundreds of thousands will be involved.

Once this has been carried out, then and only then can an accurate estimate be prepared to effect repairs.

I believe that the repair costs will be formidable especially to make it safe for pedestrians, cyclists and shipping.

Once the bridge has been repaired, there will be on going inspection, painting and maintenance costs.

Painting programmes for bridges such as this usually require patch paint job at three or four years and a full paint job at every seven to eight years as a minimum.

Has Cllr Biggin taken this into account or is he expecting the council taxpayers of Warrington to pick up the tab? (Just because there is heritage money available now does not mean it will be there in the future).

The most cost effective solution may be to remove the bridge and route cyclists and pedestrians across the locks and back on to the railway embankment.

Alternatively, it may be better to spend the money on the reopening of Stockton Lane.

RAY SINCLAIR Grappenhall