Lorries causing 'real and present risk'

RESIDENTS have warned it is a matter of time before huge articulated lorries bring down another bridge – with potentially tragic results.

Their fears are focused on the rail bridge at Lower Denford in Hungerford in the wake of a recent incident in Froxfield.

The Hungerford edition of the Newbury Weekly News reported two weeks ago that an investigation has been launched after a high-speed train struck debris from a bridge at Froxfield that had been damaged by a reversing lorry.

The heavily-loaded 4.34pm First Great Western service from London Paddington to Penzance was travelling at about 90mph in the incident on February 22.

Fortunately, the train stopped without derailing and no one was injured.

But Colin Tompkins, who took this picture at Lower Denford, said: “I read with great interest your article concerning the damage to the bridge at Froxfield and the associated emergency response that followed.

“Clearly the result of the lorry fetching down the wall of the bridge at Oak Hill caused major disruption to rail passengers involved and a necessary emergency response from police, paramedics and the air ambulance... the potential for a real disaster was so apparent.”

He added: “There is a real and present risk that this same incident could happen to the rail bridge at Lower Denford.

“Although the authorities have put up signs restricting lorries up to 7.5 tons weight to use this route, these signs are ignored on many occasions with drivers either deliberately or blindly following satnav advice.

“This continued practice could result in a similar event happening at Hungerford with potentially terrible consequences.

“However, no one in authority seems to want to police the weight restriction in place.”

His concerns were echoed by Trustee of the Town and Manor of Hungerford, Robert James, who said: “There have already been two or three bridge strikes there and the problem is getting worse.”

Mr James was instrumental in persuading highways chiefs to install weight restriction signs following a series of bridge strikes and has also helped to prevent freelance contractors for Thames Watter using the route.

However, he added: “Satnavs continue to bring HGV drivers across the bridge.

“It had to rebuilt again just before Christmas last year.

“You’ve got 12-wheel vehicles going across there – it’s absolutely ludicrous.

“There’s plenty of signage but it’s being ignored.”

Mr James called on Hungerford residents to be vigilant and added: “If you spot an HGV going over there, don’t wait until the next day, take the registration if possible and call the police immediately.”

Meanwhile the Rail Accident Investigation Investigation Bureau probe into the Froxfield incident will include a review of the adequacy of road signage and the overall response to the emergency call made by the motorist who witnessed the collapse of the bridge parapet.

It will also identify any safety lessons from the accident and post-accident response.