Castlerock railway bridge: delegation to meet community

At a meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens last month members agreed to meet with locals to gather opinions on what should be done with the bridge, which is poor condition.

Causeway Coast and Glens Council is responsible for the upkeep of the footbridge after the former Coleraine Council entered into a 10,000 year lease with NI Transport Holding Company.

Options put forward include the removal of the bridge totally, another option is to carry out repairs to the footbridge at an unknown cost.

At Tuesday night’s full Council meeting, members were told that the bridge is listed by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

DUP Alderman Sam Cole told the meeting that he had spoken to some residents and they were in favour of maintaining the bridge.

He asked if a costing could be done on what work needed to be carried out.

DUP councillor George Duddy proposed that councillors should attend the meeting with the community group.

UUP Alderman William seconded the proposal, which was agreed. “It’s a Council owned bridge and the final decision will be ours,” he said.

PUP councillor Russell Watton agreed saying: “There is no doubt that it is needed. When the gates are down the village is cut in two.”