Brewery hits back after blocking plans to build Tadcaster footbridge

We write with reference to our recent exchanges of correspondence regarding Tadcaster Bridge, in respect of which we wish to make the following points:-

1) The fault for the collapse of the 300 year old Grade II listed stone bridge in Tadcaster lies squarely with N.Y.C.C.. You failed to carry out your proper duties of maintenance. Only 3 of the 7 arches were in use and trees had been lodged for some weeks against the three used arches before the collapse. Buddleia had been growing out of the joints in the stone buttresses and the stone parapets were leaning. Because of this irresponsible breach of your duties we understand that not less than £3 million pounds will now need spending in a virtual rebuild of the listed bridge and the crossing will be closed for a year.

2) Tadcaster is fortunate in having three Wharfe crossings – the historic bridge for both vehicles and pedestrians; the by-pass bridge for vehicles only (we understand free buses and taxis are being provided to take people over the by-pass bridge); the viaduct for pedestrians only. In addition Thorp Arch bridge lies not far away. Of the three Tadcaster crossings, both the by-pass bridge and the viaduct lie above the flood plain, though on the east side the access to the viaduct lies within the flood plain.

3) Over the weekend an aggregate path for pedestrians was put in over the viaduct. Yesterday, a Sunday, no less than 14 people were being paid by central government to carry this out plus associated earth moving and compacting work with machinery. Shortly after midday the contractor had failed to get enough aggregate on to site so the 14 people on double time and machinery were stood there doing nothing.

4) Our small brewery is in a position to achieve a temporary permissive pedestrian access on the east side of the viaduct well above the flood plain which would be useable not only by pedestrians but wheelchair and pushchair users. This work would be undertaken entirely at our cost. I can assure you that without public money the work would be done far more cost effectively than the viaduct stretch over the last weekend.

5) We understand this proposed temporary footbridge would cost some £500,000 of tax-payers’ money. It seems to us a most wasteful proposed public expenditure, a typical short-term PR based sound-bite from central and local government. Who knows how the commerce in Tadcaster will recover once all the affected premises have been dried out and the insurance has been used in rehabilitation. It is a resilient little town and we all help each other as was demonstrated with 300 local volunteers giving up their holidays between Christmas and New Year.

6) Tadcaster’s listed bridge was widened before, on its downstream side, in the nineteenth century. The pavements over the bridge have been inadequate for pushchairs and the disabled. If N.Y.C.C. in the restoration would widen the bridge sensitively as was done in the nineteenth century (i.e. not a cantilevered arrangement), preferably on the downstream side, by approximately one metre so as to achieve for the long term good pedestrian, disabled and pushchair width across the bridge as a whole we would be happy to give any necessary land at the sides of the bridge that belongs to the brewery for that achievement. It would be far better long term value for this community and future generations who live here if all such public monies as are available were invested in this way.