December 2005
This is not an early or, alternatively late, April Fools article. Denbighshire County Council are proposing to increase the weight of vehicles allowed over Carrog Bridge. We have already seen the bridge closed due to the manoeuvring of one oversize vehicle and the coping stones at both ends have been damaged during the last few months by others too large to negotiate the bridge.
Damage to the bridge by heavy vehicles not only results in a threat to the greatest symbol that Carrog has, but to extreme inconvenience to our communities of Carrog and Parc when the bridge is closed for repair.
The increase in weight from 17 ton to 18 ton may not in itself be huge and the bridge built by the forefathers of this village 400 years ago is certainly strong enough for the weight. However, tonnage increases length and it is the length of vehicles allowed over the bridge that represents the constant threat.
Long vehicles cannot cope with the right angle bends at both ends of the bridge, but, having committed to crossing it, seem determined to proceed with no concern for the structure. As weight is invariably linked to length, what we need is a reduction in weight which would decrease enormously the continual damage caused to the bridge.
If you feel strongly enough, professional advice suggests we should all write to CADW at, Plas Carew, Unit 5/7 Cefn Coed, Parc Nantgarw, Cardiff CF15 7QQ
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