Still no tail bridge

WHEN Henhurst Road Bridge at Wigan was rebuilt in 2006 it incorporated long ramps (presumably for wheelchair users) but no tail bridge for lock users who as a result have to walk a considerable distance to access the other side of the lock.

Not only is this time-consuming and inconvenient but also a safety issue as in the event of an emergency a single crew member cannot quickly lower all the paddles, writes John Lloyd.

No steps for boaters

Quite why the design did not incorporate steps from the bridge which could have been done at minimal additional cost I do not know.

The problem is exacerbated by the crew of a descending boat not being able to rejoin the boat from the offside due to barriers, presumably erected to prevent local 'youth' congregating under the bridge with malicious intent.

It seems that the last people to have been given any consideration in the design and construction of Henhust Bridge are boaters.

Six years still no bridge

Following correspondence in Waterways World, British Waterways said that a tail-bridge would be erected in the winter—six years later there is still no bridge.

I realise funds are limited, but a cheaper and acceptable option would be to install a hand-rail and plank on the top gates (as at, e.g. Big Lock in Middlewich and virtually every narrow lock.