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Station hope for town cut in two Station hope for town cut in two
(about 17 hours later)
By Jon Kelly BBC News, Workington Northside Bridge was washed away in last week's devastating floodsBy Jon Kelly BBC News, Workington Northside Bridge was washed away in last week's devastating floods
Devastating floods in Cumbria have caused chaos and destruction across the county - and literally divided one town in two.Devastating floods in Cumbria have caused chaos and destruction across the county - and literally divided one town in two.
Severe weather has brought hardship to much of north-west England, but Workington can legitimately complain that it is now half the town it once was.Severe weather has brought hardship to much of north-west England, but Workington can legitimately complain that it is now half the town it once was.
The collapse of one road and one foot bridge over the River Derwent - with another vehicle crossing deemed unsafe - has turned near-neighbours into distant relations.The collapse of one road and one foot bridge over the River Derwent - with another vehicle crossing deemed unsafe - has turned near-neighbours into distant relations.
To one side of the river sits Northside, a modest housing estate. To the other are the vast majority of Workington's shops, schools and other amenities.To one side of the river sits Northside, a modest housing estate. To the other are the vast majority of Workington's shops, schools and other amenities.
So now, without the bridges to offer a way across the Derwent, Northsiders have to make a 30-mile trip to their own town centre - barely a mile-and-a-half from their homes.So now, without the bridges to offer a way across the Derwent, Northsiders have to make a 30-mile trip to their own town centre - barely a mile-and-a-half from their homes.
Such has been the impact on local life that Network Rail is planning to construct a temporary train station to the river's north - the railway line being the only surviving route across the Derwent in Workington - in a bid to keep the community intact.Such has been the impact on local life that Network Rail is planning to construct a temporary train station to the river's north - the railway line being the only surviving route across the Derwent in Workington - in a bid to keep the community intact.
'Crippling''Crippling'
The loss of the crossings has already resulted in a tragic human cost, with Pc Bill Barker, 44, swept to his death when the A597 Northside Bridge was destroyed on Friday.The loss of the crossings has already resulted in a tragic human cost, with Pc Bill Barker, 44, swept to his death when the A597 Northside Bridge was destroyed on Friday.
An emergency food centre has been set up for residents
But - less acutely - their absence continues to generate misery here.But - less acutely - their absence continues to generate misery here.
Jules Tognarelli, 40, a senior practitioner with the charity Action for Children, has already seen how dramatically flooding can disrupt her routine.Jules Tognarelli, 40, a senior practitioner with the charity Action for Children, has already seen how dramatically flooding can disrupt her routine.
On the first night of the chaos, her son's bus journey home from Penrith took him on a six-hour diversion and her husband was stranded in Carlisle for two days following a business trip to Edinburgh.On the first night of the chaos, her son's bus journey home from Penrith took him on a six-hour diversion and her husband was stranded in Carlisle for two days following a business trip to Edinburgh.
"It's been crippling for families - not just in terms of access to schools, but there's not so much as a bank on this side," she says. "There isn't a shop either.""It's been crippling for families - not just in terms of access to schools, but there's not so much as a bank on this side," she says. "There isn't a shop either."
The isolation of Northside should, at least, be alleviated by the construction of the new station, which Network Rail has promised to work on building "round the clock" so it can be ready for the weekend.The isolation of Northside should, at least, be alleviated by the construction of the new station, which Network Rail has promised to work on building "round the clock" so it can be ready for the weekend.
It will be constructed on wasteland just over half a mile from the existing Workington stop.It will be constructed on wasteland just over half a mile from the existing Workington stop.
Linked by a footbridge, the company says passengers getting on or off at Northside will have lighting, a waiting room and a gravel car park.Linked by a footbridge, the company says passengers getting on or off at Northside will have lighting, a waiting room and a gravel car park.
The Calva Bridge has dropped by a foot since the floods An emergency food centre has been set up for residents
Jules is grateful for the stop-gap measure, but warns that it will not be enough - particularly for the elderly, the disabled or those with small children.Jules is grateful for the stop-gap measure, but warns that it will not be enough - particularly for the elderly, the disabled or those with small children.
"It's only going to be a temporary station which is basically going to be built out of scaffold and planks," she says."It's only going to be a temporary station which is basically going to be built out of scaffold and planks," she says.
"The trains are already full, even before they get into Flimby (the station ahead of Workington)."The trains are already full, even before they get into Flimby (the station ahead of Workington).
"It's all right having a station, but not if there isn't a train you can get on.""It's all right having a station, but not if there isn't a train you can get on."
Lukewarm welcomeLukewarm welcome
Wayne Walker, 31, the father of three young children, agrees. His offspring have been "getting a bit ratty" in the house as a result of being unable to get to school.Wayne Walker, 31, the father of three young children, agrees. His offspring have been "getting a bit ratty" in the house as a result of being unable to get to school.
The Calva Bridge has dropped by a foot since the floods
But what worries Wayne is that the elderly and infirm on the Northside will be left no better off as a result of the new railway stop.But what worries Wayne is that the elderly and infirm on the Northside will be left no better off as a result of the new railway stop.
"It'll help people go into the town, but if they go for shopping, they've got to trail it back on the train," he says."It'll help people go into the town, but if they go for shopping, they've got to trail it back on the train," he says.
Volunteers are making sure vulnerable people are not forgotten
"The town isn't just a matter of walking into town and doing your shopping - it's a mile further up the road.""The town isn't just a matter of walking into town and doing your shopping - it's a mile further up the road."
Not all Northsiders are so pessimistic, however. Jennifer Kirkbride, a 59-year-old grandmother, is upbeat.Not all Northsiders are so pessimistic, however. Jennifer Kirkbride, a 59-year-old grandmother, is upbeat.
"It won't help the old people, people with babies or wheelchairs," she says. "But it will help."It won't help the old people, people with babies or wheelchairs," she says. "But it will help.
"At the moment we're quite comfortable, dry, we've got food and plenty of milk and tea bags - as long as we've got food and we're warm, we're happy enough at the moment."At the moment we're quite comfortable, dry, we've got food and plenty of milk and tea bags - as long as we've got food and we're warm, we're happy enough at the moment.
Volunteers are making sure vulnerable people are not forgotten
"But we just feel a little bit isolated.""But we just feel a little bit isolated."
Although Workington has been split in two, the chaos has brought many of its inhabitants closer.Although Workington has been split in two, the chaos has brought many of its inhabitants closer.
At the Northside Community Centre, donations of food are handed out. Thanks to volunteers, a minibus takes pensioners to do their shopping and a prescription exchange service has been arranged with pharmacies on either side of the Derwent.At the Northside Community Centre, donations of food are handed out. Thanks to volunteers, a minibus takes pensioners to do their shopping and a prescription exchange service has been arranged with pharmacies on either side of the Derwent.
Retired police officer Joe Bell, 56, appreciates the paradox of Workington's great divide.Retired police officer Joe Bell, 56, appreciates the paradox of Workington's great divide.
"It really has", he remarks wryly, "brought people together.""It really has", he remarks wryly, "brought people together."