MOTORISTS in Middlewich are being urged to slow down when crossing the town’s 200-year old canal bridges.


The plea, from the Canal and River Trust and Middlewich Town Council, comes after several crashes into historic bridges including Brooks Lane Bridge in Middlewich.


The bridge, which goes over the Trent and Mersey Canal and dates back to the 1700s, was crashed into by a lorry in January this year and was closed for several weeks for repair work.


It was then hit again just a few days after it was repaired.


Cllr Bernice Walmsley, Middlewich Town Council and Cheshire East Council member, added: “There are several issues associated with this bridge and Cheshire East Councillors are looking for solutions. Safety is of the utmost importance and I am sure that if we all work together we can not only make it safer for people to use the bridge but also help to preserve our lovely bridges.”


Over the past three years, the Canal and River Trust, has had to spend more than £75,000 in the Middlewich region, repairing hump-back bridges in hit-and-run accidents.


The Trust is working with Middlewich Town Council to raise awareness of Middlewich’s historic canal bridges and to look at options to avoid any further damage and expense.


Gillian Renshaw, engagement manager at Canal and River Trust, said: “Hump-back bridges are synonymous with our wonderful canals, connecting us to our past and to a slower pace of life. Each time a bridge is hit a small bit of history is lost and it is heart-breaking for us to spend so much time and money caring for these amazing structures just to see them damaged. It is just such a waste.


“We are working with Middlewich Town Council to monitor the traffic flow with modern CCTV so we can look at options to improve signage and road markings. Bridge 169 [Brooks Lane Bridge] has been hit repeatedly and it appears that careless motorists are ignoring the one way signs.

"If motorists just slowed down a bit and took more care and attention then they would really help protect our heritage. It’s quite simple, if you see a hump-back bridge sign then slow down.”


Damage caused by motorists causes up to £1 million of repairs to bridges each year nationwide, with an average of one bridge strike every week.


For more information on the work of the Canal & River Trust visit canalrivertrust.org.uk