Last updated at 11:40, Monday, 07 December 2009

A new footbridge linking two communities in Workington has been named after policeman Bill Barker who died when the Northside bridge collapsed.

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About 300 schoolchildren from the stricken communities of Seaton, Northside, Barepot and Siddick, were the first to cross the 51metre bridge – called Barker Crossing – at 8am today.

Soldiers have been working around the clock to build the bridge, which links the north and south side of the River Derwent, around 300 metres from the condemned Calva Bridge.

Inspector Mark Wear, who heads up Workington Neighbourhood Policing Team, who was at this morning’s opening, said: “This footbridge is a tangible symbol of how we are starting to rebuild the area and getting back to normal.

“I am pleased that its name commemorates my friend and colleague Bill, who died saving lives right here in Workington. He was committed to serving his community and for him to be remembered in this way is a tribute to his memory.”

Buses dropped children off at the north side of the bridge this morning. They then walked over the bridge and were met by four waiting busses which transported them to school.

Headteacher of St Joseph’s School in Workingon, Tom Ryan, was at the bridge to reassure his pupils who were crossing it for the first time.

“It has been very difficult since the floods but the children have seen it as a challenge,” he said.

The construction of Barker Crossing has been co-ordinated by 42 (North West) Brigade, the regional Army brigade for North West England, with input from Royal Engineers, Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Signals, and Royal Military Police.

Armed Forces minister Bill Rammell MP attended the opening of the new bridge alongside Brigadier Bill Aldridge, Commander 42 (North West) Brigade.

Brigadier Aldridge said: “Our soldiers have worked round-the-clock to get us to where we are today, opening this footbridge on time to meet the morning school run. The support and generosity our soldiers have received from people and businesses in Workington has been fantastic and has served to further strengthen our great relationship with the Cumbrian community.”

The county council has revealed that a temporary road bridge will not be built before next summer, due to the significant amount of planning, preparation and construction work needed.

Councillor Jim Buchanan, leader of Cumbria County Council, said: “There has been a massive effort on all fronts to get to where we are today. There’s clearly still a huge amount of work still to do and I appreciate that people are getting frustrated with the travel delays and are keen to be able to cross the river by road as soon as possible.

“We’re pulling out all the stops to make that happen but the reality is that a temporary road bridge is a far bigger project than the temporary footbridge that the army has done such a magnificent job of constructing so quickly. Everybody needs to club together to make life as easy as it can be while the disruption continues - be it through using the footbridge and taking public transport, car sharing, or avoiding travelling at peak times.”

Schools minister Iain Wright MP was also at the opening.

He is meeting headteachers and local authority education experts today to learn more about how schools in the area have been managing since the floods hit.

He said: “It’s really positive news that the Barker Crossing is now opening. Following the weekend of heavy rain and flooding some children had to travel for over two hours each way just to get to school.”

Barker Crossing is almost identical to one recently built by British Army engineers across a canal in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

First published at 11:13, Monday, 07 December 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk