Long Horse Bridge open

THREE months behind schedule, the new Long Horse Bridge over the Trent at Derwent Mouth is at last open.

Though the old bridge was a narrow footbridge, the new one, at a cost of £1.4 millions, but vastly increased, is a combined footpath and bridleway, though as can be seen from the photograph taken yesterday (Tuesday) it is wide enough to take a tank!

Horses not allowed

It is not understood why it has been constructed to take a bridleway, as horses are not allowed on towpaths, and the height of nearby Bridge 1 on the Trent & Mersey Canal would only allow a small pony to pass under, without a rider.

The path down from the river has obstructions that horses and riders would have difficult to negotiate, and it only leads onto a very busy M1 Motorway feeder road.  Unless of course a new way is to be constructed.

At least the siting of the bridge away from the junction is better for the moorers at Shardlow Marina, as the old bridge situated directly by the entrance to the Trent & Mersey Canal made it difficult to negotiate when a strong stream was running.