On Wednesday, September 30, the other bridge, namely Hayhurst Bridge, was out of action for a period of time in the early morning.

People on their way to work were diverted via Barnton, Weaverham and Hartford and children on their way to school did not know whether they could get across the bridge.

I, myself, had to contact members of my own family to advise them to take alternative routes into the town.

Even local town councillor, Ron Woodier, was caught up in the chaos.

Could the river craft not be asked to lower their mast where appropriate to enable them to pass under the bridges?

No doubt the police resources were stretched to their limits redirecting traffic and what if the emergency services were needed to attend a call when both these bridges were out of action?

Surely the time to look at an alternative road system going in and out of the town is long overdue, and local and the county councillors must look seriously and act now.

B Tench

Navigation Road, Northwich

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.