MP launches 'bring back our bridge' campaign for Backbarrow

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today launched a 'bring back our bridge' campaign for Backbarrow. The village's footbridge collapsed during the floods last autumn, and at the same time the road bridge in the village was severely damaged. Neither bridge has yet reopened.

Cumbria County Council owned the old footbridge - their current plans to replace the bridge would see the village left cut in two for at least another year.

Local residents currently have to drive from one side of the village to the other. School children who would normally take just 5 minutes to walk to school have been making the trip by minibus. Tim is working with local Lib Dem county councillor Rod Wilson to press Cumbria County Council and Defra to speed up the work to replace the bridge.

Commenting Tim said: "We've heard a lot about the work being done to reconnect communities further north in the county, but residents in Backbarrow have heard very little. The damaged road bridge is causing real hardship to local residents, and is even threatening the viability of the village shop."

Lib Dem county councillor for the area, Rod Wilson, said: "I'm frustrated by the lack of movement in all this. I'm working hard as I can to speed the process up and to make sure we re-connect the community as soon as we possibly can. I'm working with Tim Farron to make sure that the community is not forgotten and all the promises that were made to Backbarrow last year are delivered on."