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or...Proposed new footbridge over the River Derwent
Cockermouth: a place where differences are made by local people, a place to romance, to dally, to dream, to aspire. A town with it's castle, it's spires and a confluence from which it gained its name. Imagine a bridge -linking the Millar’s river walk with the "riversmeet" area, offering access to Castlegate, school, sports, hospital and market place. A circular town walk. Let’s look to the possibility of building a new bridge and inspiration to stop.
Volunteers are now working towards an exhibition mid November where we hope to find out if a majority of Cockermouth residents want such a bridge and if they would use it. We hope to show how a bridge has to fit in with our environment-to explain why we are a Site of Special Scientific Interest and how that influences the design specification of a bridge. Any offers of help are greatly appreciated - in particular in the arts and knowledge of salmon fishing. I believe there is a wealth of talent and skills in our community that can be willingly harnessed and celebrated. In doing so, we get to understand a little more about the environment we live in and learn a lot about what is needed to build a bridge.
Categories: Built Environment, Culture and Heritage, Health & Wellbeing, Natural Habitats & Wildlife, Transport,
Comments
I would like to explore the
I would like to explore the potential of reinstating the weir upstream of the bridge site as part of the project. We could create a hydro-electric generation instalation with a fish pass for the salmon that generated income for community sustainability initiatives. I have discussed this with a friend who is part of a group who owns part of the fishing between Cockermouth and Isel who says it would be possible to achieve without impacting on the fishing.
There are many examples of this on other rivers.
I may also be able to help source advice on the salmon fishery.
proposed new footbridge over river derwent
Gill Greenhalgh
The design elements for this bridge are a consideration for the future. If any footbridge were to be designed or constructed this would depend on securing funding. The most likely source seems to me to be "Public Realm". For us to be able to apply we need to clearly demonstrate that a footbridge is desired by the people of Cockermouth and that they would see a need for it.
An opinion postcard will be available throughout town within a fortnight. This will be used to collect that information.
Please consider first, before design - do you think it would be an asset to the town - would you want it? This can be viewed from a position of reducing carbon footprint as it offers another access point to town and schools. It could be viewed as a dog walking route or a short stroll through town, good for mental wellbeing. It could be a guide to bring tourists into Market place. It could be a tourist attraction. It could be as most people say "sense and should have been done years ago".
But, without this essential evidence it wont be.
Whatever your view, please make it known and encourage as many people as possible to complete an opinion card. Ive been advised that a 5% return is likely and this will just not be enough.
If you are undecided on your viewpoint, then come to the exhibition on the 15th November at the Kirkgate to discover more.
footbridge
After initial skepticism about the environmental benefit of the bridge I started to think about it as a demonstration for a zero carbon bridge. That is a totally wood bridge, on such a site it would blend better and the design would be futher enhanced if it was low profile like Norman Foster & partners bridge at Tate Modern (but smaller). It would be good to integrate it with micro-hydro for lighting etc.
Psychology too
Environmental benefits should also take into account the positive psychological affect too. The opportunity with this bridge allows the general user a much closer interaction with the natural surroundings than normal. The simple act of walking over water with 'designed in' views up and down the river can subtly require the user to assess their relationship with nature and the natural environment. So the measure of zero carbon is too simplistic a measure.
If a timber bridge is to be pursued, then acceptance that the structure by its nature will need to be greater than if using steel for instance. A single span bridge in timber would be (including handrails) about 2m deep with a metre of that depth being solid. No supports can touch the water!
zero carbon might be simple but is important
along with the psychology and community building aspects.
2m sounds deep & might compromise the aesthetic, but if it includes structural handrails? Can it taper to the middle & use compression, is it possible to use laminates (would this compromise the green aspiration)?
Have to be laminates
It's only a thumbnail calculation but the main structure would be 2 900x200mm glulam beam with the handrails on top. With timber you can’t incorporate the handrail structure as part of the main 'beam' as the junctions would require to be so beefy the whole thing would be almost solid. That’s not the case with steel.
I personally prefer a stressed skin structure.
Suspending judgement
While I support the amenity and aesthetic benifits I feel this project must embrace sound sustainable development practice.
I have a personal preference for a light steel cable and hardwood structure suspended from elegant steel uprights, but perhaps we need a feasability study to evaluate the options against visual , cost and sustainability criteria.
What about preparing a brief for the feasability study, since we need options to consider that meet some agreed criteria and have been proven to be viable.
Why?
Sorry. I don't want to sound negative, but my only answer to this project is "why"? At a time when kids are being chased off the streets by the police with little for them to go to, we are spending money on a bridge to nowhere. Waste of resources I would say. You can already get across the river on the current bridge. It doesn't link any developments to the town - residents of the estate across the river will still use the current bridge. This isn't the Thames.
footbridge over river derwent
Gill Greenhalgh
Its great to see this is starting to generate debate. Thankyou. The exhibition on the 15th November at the Kirkgate Centre will mark the end of the public survey. This exhibition will cover aspects of bridges in Cockermouth, from the past, the present and looking to the future. Exhibits will include anecdotal tales, a children’s big timeline and how the land and water "is". It will include future considerations as what has to happen, how and when. We will have a large board for people to "post" what practical considerations should be thought about, so all thoughts of photovoltic lights, hydroelectric,zero carbon, and youth activities we hope get posted there. Dont forget the proposal includes enhancing the land at the confluence.
The timing of this proposal is incidental. However there are no "allocated" funds that are being used, all work so far is voluntary. If it moves forward, funding would need to be attracted from "unallocated" sources for a feasibility study. If that was to be granted, it would bring work to local firms, (another practical consideration) which in these times may be welcome.
Do you think a beautiful bridge would enhance Cockermouth for us and for its visitors? The metal fishes, rope sculptures, and the wave lights in Whitehaven are unnecessary but have they made it a pleasure to visit? Please come along to the exhibition, post your practical considerations and if you have not already done so, fill in your public survey opinion card.