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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Flooded town united by new bridge | Flooded town united by new bridge |
| (38 minutes later) | |
| A Cumbrian town split in half by floods which killed a police officer and forced hundreds to flee their homes has been reunited with a new footbridge. | A Cumbrian town split in half by floods which killed a police officer and forced hundreds to flee their homes has been reunited with a new footbridge. |
| Workington's new Barker Crossing, built by the Army, is named after Pc Bill Barker who died when Northside Bridge collapsed as he tried to clear traffic. | Workington's new Barker Crossing, built by the Army, is named after Pc Bill Barker who died when Northside Bridge collapsed as he tried to clear traffic. |
| Schoolchildren were the first to cross the temporary bridge today, as heavy rain began to fall across the county. | Schoolchildren were the first to cross the temporary bridge today, as heavy rain began to fall across the county. |
| The Met Office has warned of up to 15mm of rain within the next few hours. | The Met Office has warned of up to 15mm of rain within the next few hours. |
| The bridge was built in a week by the Army | The bridge was built in a week by the Army |
| The 170ft (52m) Barker Crossing, which spans the River Derwent, took one week to build. | The 170ft (52m) Barker Crossing, which spans the River Derwent, took one week to build. |
| The work was co-ordinated by the Army, with help from the Royal Engineers, Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Signals and the Royal Military Police. | The work was co-ordinated by the Army, with help from the Royal Engineers, Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Signals and the Royal Military Police. |
| It is the first time since the floods that people in Workington have been able to cross the river, other than by rail. | It is the first time since the floods that people in Workington have been able to cross the river, other than by rail. |
| In addition to the collapse of Northside Bridge, a footbridge was also destroyed, and the town's Calva Bridge was left unstable. | In addition to the collapse of Northside Bridge, a footbridge was also destroyed, and the town's Calva Bridge was left unstable. |
| Since then some school pupils have endured three-hour bus journeys and strain has been put on the road network in West Cumbria. | Since then some school pupils have endured three-hour bus journeys and strain has been put on the road network in West Cumbria. |
| Major Nigel Hindmarsh, of the Royal Engineers, said the new bridge had been constructed to withstand a one in a hundred year flood. | Major Nigel Hindmarsh, of the Royal Engineers, said the new bridge had been constructed to withstand a one in a hundred year flood. |
| He said: "We can't counter against all eventualities, but what we've tried to do is make sure if there are any more repetitions of the other day then we'll be able to counter for that. | He said: "We can't counter against all eventualities, but what we've tried to do is make sure if there are any more repetitions of the other day then we'll be able to counter for that. |
| AT THE SCENE By John Thorne, in Workington | |
| In the heavy rain and swirling Cumbrian wind, the Royal Engineers who'd built the bridge proudly lined up across their construction as the first Workington "customers" tested a structure built in record time. | |
| The soldiers clapped and smiled as 100 or so schoolchildren scampered laughing and jostling across the swollen River Derwent. | |
| This was the first time since the tragic floods last month that the communities on the south and north banks of the river in Workington had been directly connected. | |
| This 51-metre temporary bridge was named "Barker's Crossing" after a campaign organised by local teenagers on YouTube first suggested it bear the name of Bill Barker, the Cumbrian police officer who died when a town bridge was swept away in the floods. | |
| Grace Friar, a student at the local sixth form college, said the new bridge which now replaces the 18-mile diversion would save her two hours travel a day. Soldiers work to unite flood town | |
| "I'm immensely proud of what my boys have achieved in the last 10 days, but also it's just been amazing the community spirit and the support that we've had from the locals in everything that we've been doing." | "I'm immensely proud of what my boys have achieved in the last 10 days, but also it's just been amazing the community spirit and the support that we've had from the locals in everything that we've been doing." |
| The bridge is almost identical to one recently built by British Army engineers across a canal in Helmand Province. | The bridge is almost identical to one recently built by British Army engineers across a canal in Helmand Province. |
| Captain Caroline Graham-Brown from the Royal Engineer helped design the new temporary crossing in Workington. She said when the team first arrived at the site, it was under water. | Captain Caroline Graham-Brown from the Royal Engineer helped design the new temporary crossing in Workington. She said when the team first arrived at the site, it was under water. |
| She said: "It's amazing how quickly it's gone in. We got here two weeks ago, and the initial sort of site survey was the first thing that we undertook and since then it's really been a very, very short time to get the guys on the ground building it and then the bridge into the position that you see now." | She said: "It's amazing how quickly it's gone in. We got here two weeks ago, and the initial sort of site survey was the first thing that we undertook and since then it's really been a very, very short time to get the guys on the ground building it and then the bridge into the position that you see now." |
| Inspector Mark Wear, of Workington Police, said: "This footbridge is a tangible symbol of how we are starting to rebuild the area and getting back to normal. | Inspector Mark Wear, of Workington Police, said: "This footbridge is a tangible symbol of how we are starting to rebuild the area and getting back to normal. |
| "I am pleased that its name commemorates my friend and colleague Bill, who died saving lives right here in Workington. He was committed to serving his community and for him to be remembered in this way is a tribute to his memory." | "I am pleased that its name commemorates my friend and colleague Bill, who died saving lives right here in Workington. He was committed to serving his community and for him to be remembered in this way is a tribute to his memory." |
| Plans for a new temporary road bridge are expected to be outlined in the next few days. | Plans for a new temporary road bridge are expected to be outlined in the next few days. |
| However, it is thought that North and South Workington may not be reconnected by road until summer 2010. | However, it is thought that North and South Workington may not be reconnected by road until summer 2010. |