The 87 feet bridge on Copperhouse Pool.
Obvious new work is the tide guage; the opened bridge sat on the wall nearest.
In operation, the bridge was lifted and chains pulled it around, using a wheel under the structure.
Swingbridge
Built in 1877 and is Listed.
Here is a beaurocratic and financial nightmare; one that is upsetting to Hayle and her hard working residents.
The bridge has supported traffic for 132 years, a hundred of those carrying the heaviest loads imaginable.
It now serves as access to the Towans, the King George V Walk, etc., despite the history, it is an eyesore.
It needs restoration, structural analysis and repair. It needs to be coated with a finish.
The owners have been obstructive and uncooperative.
A report has been drafted in 2008, for the whole area.
As far as the bridge is concerned, it is currently proposed by ING/FSP to bypass the old bridge with a new one.
The span was originally a drawbridge built in 1837, of which there are scant remains in the stonework.
The swingbridge of 1877, took the Wharves Branch Line and road traffic; The Line closed in 1983.
The Engine wheel house was restored by Rail Track Properties and The Railway Heritage Trust in 2005, following vandalism of 2001.
Since there were only three such bridges built and the one at Hayle is the most intact,
it beggars belief that it is not protected and repaired.
The wheel house formerly was driven by a steam engine, and the mechanism in the house is virtually intact.
None of this is enhanced by the rudimentary pipework strung from the fabric.
Neither is the site improved by the dumping of refuse and a mattress under the bridge.
The whole thing looks like the very worst that London can offer, dismal, decayed and disgusting.
The matter of the upkeep of this Listed Structure was discussed in 2006,
and it then transpired that there was considerably divisory claims and posturing over,
what is to major companies, peanuts, in comparison to the finances that circulate the halls of BRBR.
It was stated that they were not prepared to finance or undertake any work to the bridge or the wheel house,
despite the fact that it remains the property of British Rail; the only proposals were that decking should be improved.
In all, it appears that Hayle will be left with a rusting hulk in the middle of the improvements
and the bridge will eventually collapse into the creek,
leaving Cornwall minus another Historic Structure that had no protection other than to have been entered on a meaningless list.
As to why the bridge was never sold along with railway lands, remains a total mystery.
There does not appear to be any interim structural report, nor any public notice of its condition or limitation of loading capacity.
No Risk Assessment in Use, however, despite an offer by locals to decorate the bridge,
onerous insurmountable conditions were laid down as to safety and risk assessment etc.
which resulted in BRBR not allowing any locals to perform any works. All a bit convenient on the part of the owners.
Commonsense and Goodwill has flown out of the window - no one is allowed to think and do anymore.
Raymond Forward
