MP demands compensation for Staveley businesses

Local MP Tim Farron has written to the government to demand compensation for businesses in Staveley which have seen trade hit by the closure of the bridge for a year and a half.

The Gowan Old Bridge in Staveley was originally damaged during the floods following Storm Desmond in early December 2015. The bridge was damaged beyond repair and needed to be fully replaced. The new bridge will be completed by the 16 May 2017.

Tim has today written to the Business Minister to demand compensation for businesses in Staveley which have seen trade hit over this period due to the bridge closure.

Tim said: "For businesses in Staveley, the hardship caused by the floods of 2015 is still not over. They will have waited a year and a half for this bridge to reopen, with trade hit every single day by reduced footfall. The bridge's closure has sent the symbolic message that the village is closed, and businesses have suffered for it.

"The government must look at what can be done to compensate these businesses. They have been through an incredibly difficult year and a half and have worked hard to stay in business and protect jobs. If the government had prioritised getting bridges like this one back open and provided the resources to make it happen, these businesses would not have been put through this. They deserve compensation."