Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge remains shut as investigations continue

The Canal and River Trust (CRT) carried out repairs at Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge over the weekend.

The bridge has been out of action for around two months and while the work was successful, the CRT has said it will have to stay closed for the time being.

A spokesperson said: “The planned works to Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge on Saturday were successful and the bridge was opened and closed seven times.

“This week, a detailed survey of the bridge and associated structures is being undertaken (by external contractors) to verify the safe operation of the bridge.

“In the meantime, the bridge will remain closed to navigation and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

They added that their work has been made impacted by recently announced cuts to funding.

“The work to maintain Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge is just one example of the breadth and scale of the work undertaken by charity CRT and the cost required to upkeep such iconic structures, at a time when the government has announced a significant cut in future funding for the trust,” the spokesperson said.

The Danny has been stuck on the Weaver due to issues with the swing bridges (Image: NQ)

Concerns over the cuts were echoed by Stuart Wood, chair of the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society.

“It’s already barely enough,” he said.

The Danny, as it is known, is a 120-year-old steam ship which has been stuck on the Weaver as a result of the issues with the swing bridge.

As such, they have had to cancel several trips, resulting in the loss of around £45,000 in income.

READ MORE: Swing bridge faults put iconic 120-year-old steam ship at risk of bankruptcy

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs explained it has always been the plan for the CRT to become more self-sufficient financially.

They said: “Since it was first created in 2012, we have been very clear the trust would have to increasingly move towards alternative sources of funding.

“To date we have awarded them £550 million funding and are supporting the Trust with a further £590 million between now and 2037 – a significant sum of money and a sign of the importance that we place on our canals.

“We have been discussing this with the charity for some time and have been offering support on how it can increase income from other sources, as per the original objective of the grant funding.”