Historic bridge to be dug up for electrical line

A historic bridge is set to be dug up to provide a new electrical line through a town in Cornwall.

The National Grid applied for planning and listed building permission to cut a trench through the Trevemper Footbridge across the River Gannel, Newquay.

The company will install electricity ducting for a new electrical line to the national grid connection at Trencreek Substation, which will feed the Nansledan development on the outskirts of the town.

Cubert Parish Council has objected to the application, and stated “the proposal will adversely affect a listed structure” and an “alternative route should be used”.

A meeting of Cornwall Council’s central sub-area planning committee heard on Monday the original bridge was built in 1260.

It heard various permutations were rebuilt over the years, with the current listed bridge constructed in 1860, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The footbridge, although used by the public, is not shown on Cornwall Council mapping as being a public right of way, bridleway or classified or unclassified road.

It is, however, in Cornwall Council’s ownership and so falls to the local authority to maintain the bridge and to give its consent as owner to allow the proposal to proceed.

A planning officer said the work to take up the tarmac and put electrical duct underneath was not considered to be harmful to the original construction of the bridge, and recommended approval.

Vice-chairman of Cubert Parish Council Lloyd Spencer said at the meeting the council's concern was "on two bases".

He said: “The first is damage that may be done immediately by the installation of the conduit and, secondly and perhaps more importantly, the potential for future damage.

"What future, obtrusive maintenance might need to be carried out?”

A representative from the National Grid said the work was part of a Government scheme to release more capacity in the network to aid local businesses and would involve the installation of 3.5km (2.2 miles) of cable.

He said: “The footbridge is not our preferred route.

"A road bridge proved unsuitable and a steel pipe acoss the river was refused by the Environment Agency as was a duct at the side of the bridge by Cornwall Council.”

The application was approved by six votes for, three against and one abstention.