Great Western Coffee Shop

Interesting article from the Daily Mail about repairs to a disused railway bridge at Lesnewth, still subject of maintenance by BRB (Residuary) Ltd.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1205849/Fury-pretty-19th-century-railway-bridge-rebuilt-using-red-brick-penny-pinching-rail-firm.html

Something tells me the Daily Hate would have been the first paper to start shrieking, foaming and frothing had a bit of stray masonry hit anyone...  ::)

The one major thing the paper got totally wrong is BRB (Residuary)Ltd is a subsidiary of the Dept for Transport and not as stated Network Rail

I totally agree with your sentiments but there is little chance if this happening.This is one of a few bridges which go over a disused line which is in a cutting. This is the weird bit, the land, including the cutting, either side of the bridge was sold off to the local land owner(s) years ago and then the cuttings were filled in, but only upto the sides of the bridge, I believe because of maintainence requirements.
The bit directly under the bridge is left empty!! In effect you can go into the adjacent field and walk parallel to the bridge but on the wrong side of the parapet

I like the way the council are kicking off, I wonder how many "lovely" station bulidings were knocked down with the blessing of various councils after the beeching cuts! Its a wall on the side of a road, who cares whether its made of stone, brick or chocolate!!!

I'm tempted to agree. Esp during a recession, swine flu, wars etc.

Totally agree. This is a line that will NEVER reopen so they should be allowed to fill in the bit under the bridge do away with the walls and then the farmer / land owner can fence his field off. No more bridge, no more maintainence, no more problems, Not every bit of railway stonework has to be saved.

I take it this bridge is on the old LSWR "main" line from Halwill to Wadebridge??

yep. I think there's two or three like this in North Cornwall. You can be just driving down a lane, pass between two bits of wall and unless you know what they are or look at an OS map you would never guess there used to be a railway there.

The following quote from the Cornish Guardian on 18/8 -
In an article last week ^Residents call for eyesore red wall to be demolished^ we said that the BRB (Residuary) Ltd was a subsidiary of Network Rail this was incorrect BRB (Residuary) Ltd is owned by the government's Department for Transport and has no connection with Network Rail.

We apologise for the error.