Great Musgrave bridge planning application

Link to the planning application: tiny.cc/GreatM...
Alongside its profligate exploits in Queensbury Tunnel, the infilling of Great Musgrave bridge, Cumbria represents the most grievous act of National Highways’ eight-year stewardship of the Historical Railways Estate. This was simply an opportunistic exercise in liability reduction, but - in response to the outrage prompted - the state-owned roads company attempted to contrive a distorted reality whereby the structure became a threat to public safety. In truth of course, it was absolutely fine.
Sadly, National Highways’ culture is so rooted in arrogance that it cannot say sorry or ever admit to being wrong. And so Great Musgrave bridge stands as a hideous monument to its failings.
Infilling kicked the volunteers of two heritage railways firmly in the teeth. Their longstanding aspiration of unification - to boost the local economy - involved relaying a track beneath the structure which needed perhaps £20K of modest repairs to carry vehicles of 40 tonnes. Now, according to National Highways, rehabilitating it for rail traffic could cost £431K, on top of the £124K frittered away on infill. The company does not understand how grotesque that is because it has no grasp as to the value of money in the real world.
National Highways has said it will remove the infill when it becomes the last obstacle to the railways’ reconnection, but this has no legal standing and offers no basis for enforcement. The statement is hollow, perpetuated only for PR purposes.
The infill needs to be removed now and Eden District Council’s requirement that planning permission must be obtained to retain it beyond May 2022 offers an opportunity to force that outcome. But we must all unite to demonstrate our collective rejection of National Highways’ vandalism.
Please OBJECT to the planning application to make the infill at Great Musgrave bridge permanent.
Link to the planning application: tiny.cc/GreatM...
More information about objecting: thehregroup.org...