Steady progress on Lower Road railway bridge

12.00.00am GMT Thu 1st Nov 2007

County Councillor Paul Goggins has a 20 year record of pressing for action on the Lower Road railway bridge

The 20 year battle to provide a safe route for pedestrians under the Lower Road railway bridge continues, after a local resident presented a petition to the combined Highways panel of Three Rivers and the County Council.

County Councillor Paul Goggins said, "I have been trying to find an answer to the issues at this bridge since I was first elected in 1986. In 1995, after working with LibDem Cllr Chris Skinner, we were able to bring the need for a footpath under the bridge to the top of the County Council's highways list.

"Unfortunately Railtrack (the then owners of the bridge) demanded an unlimited liability from the County Council in case the bridge was hit and the County Council then refused to go ahead".

After Mrs Helen Lehrle had presented her petition to the panel last night, councillors agreed to make the footpath the priority for money left over from the Ovaltine development. A meeting of council officers and councillors will be held, to which Cllr Goggins has insisted that Mrs Lehrle is invited.

Cllr Joy Mann said, "I have been keen to improve the walking route to the new play area since it was opened in the summer, as at the moment it is not safe for children to walk through to play. We must ensure that Network Rail see sense and allow changes to the bridge to make it safe for pedestrians."