New warning message for drivers using Weymouth Town Bridge
It's been designed by children from Holy Trinity School
A new message for drivers is being used when Weymouth's Town Bridge lifts - at the suggestion of children from Holy Trinity School.
They wrote to the Town Council, to say the safety messages broadcast when the road's temporarily split in two, should also include a request for drivers to turn off their engines while waiting, to protect the environment.
With help from the Harbour Master and Dorset Council, the new announcements are now ready.
Mayor of Weymouth, Cllr Jon Orrell, said: “When the school approached me with the suggestion from children about the addition to the town bridge announcement, I was delighted to help. And it was great to be able to work in partnership with Dorset Council to add a message to drivers to turn off their engines while waiting either side of the bridge. We hope drivers will listen to the message and take action for the benefit of the environment in this picturesque part of our seaside town. Congratulations to the children at Holy Trinity.”
Holy Trinity School Council Leader, Miss Hannah Daykin, said:
“As part of Holy Trinity’s celebration of the Great Big Green Week last year, the children thoughtfully considered action that could be taken to tackle climate change and protect nature. We strongly encourage our children to be agents of change and we are delighted that the school council’s suggestion to reduce car emissions has been acted upon. This will undoubtedly inspire others to make their voices heard and to act as responsible citizens, not only of Weymouth, but of the whole planet.”
It comes as further maintenance works are being planned for the bridge.
They include repairing and refurbishing the rusting metalwork parapets with a complete repaint of the structure.
There is no timetable for the work at the moment and it is unclear whether or not bridge closures, or part-closures, will be needed.
Dorset Council has had to apply to its own planning department for permission to carry out the works and also needs consent from its Conservation team because the bridge is a grade 2 listed structure.
Work on the bridge over the past two years has mainly been to repair and replace the metal deck plates, at times resulting in the closure, or part-closure of the structure.
It was while this work was carried out that detailed inspections identified that the parapet panels, as well as the posts and troughing are also in need of repairs.
A report on the state of the structure says there are signs of localised corrosion, including areas which now have sharp edges with the parapet supporting framework heavily corroded.
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