Article from the News & Star
A Carlisle campaign group has launched a publicity drive to highlight the need to reopen one of the city’s historic bridges.
The Carlisle Waverley Viaduct Trust has welcomed students from Northumbria University who are set to help open the bridge across the River Eden to both walkers and cyclists. The organisation has been working to to reopen the via- duct for more than 10 years and its aim is to “promote public access across the River Eden within the city for walking and cycling, to reconnect and unite communities”.
Julie Bowman, the group’s chair, said this next stage is a major achievement. Five international student have travelled from India to study at the university. The team leader, Vignesh Koreddiwar, 23, said: “We want to help attract people to the area and hope to make video and do a lot of work on social media. We plan on reaching out to charities and others who have interests in the viaduct’s history.”
The team is hoping to be able to secure more than £250,000 in funding to help get the viaduct open and safe for the public are able to use. The volunteers have high hopes for the area and want to introduce some new and younger people into the team to help secure its future.
Julie said: “We hope the students will be able to help us find the money to fund the work we need to do. “They will be able to offer a different prospective.
“The public are well aware of the viaducts situation, many likened it to the ongoing disappearance of many of the city’s historical assets. “Boarded up Carlisle’ was a term used by more than one individual and many were angry in respect of a perceived disinterest by officials and lack of imagination towards the city’s revitalisation. “Most felt and said that the council were more interested in building more housing estate estates.
“Overwhelming support to reopen the old girl is out there what’s not to like about the campaign to give her back to the people?”
