On Air Now

Alex Cann

8:00am - Noon

Now Playing

Spice Girls

Spice Up Your Life

Damaged Skipton canal bridge to be replaced

The Canal and River Trust says work will be completed in May to replace the damaged swing bridge between Aireville Park and Skipton Railway Station.

The installation of the bridge - which is heavily used by pedestrians to get to the park, leisure centre, Craven College and Skipton Academy - will cost around £300,000.

The footpath over the bridge will be closed from Monday 10th May for up to three weeks. The old bridge will be removed on Sunday 16th May and the new one installed the following week on 23rd May. Work is expected to be completed by 28th May.

On the two Sundays - 16th and 23rd - Carleton New Road will be closed from the railway station end. Access to Engine Shed Lane and Sandylands will be via Carleton Road.

The new bridge weighs around 20 tonnes and is constructed of steel. It has been designed to be easier to open by boaters than the current bridge, and will last for decades to come.

Sean McGinley, Canal & River Trust director for Yorkshire & North East, said: “We know this is an important pedestrian route for Skipton so we have tried to minimise the inconvenience as much as possible.

“We will need to close Carleton New Road on the sharp bend for two Sundays, which will allow a crane access to the site.

“We listened to feedback after first discovering the damage, and were pleased that through the support of our employees and local volunteers, we were able to keep the bridge operating.”

More from Latest local news

Rombalds Radio apps



Today's weather

  • Skipton

    Sunny intervals

    High: 11°C | Low: 2°C

  • Ilkley

    Sunny intervals

    High: 11°C | Low: 3°C

  • Keighley

    Sunny intervals

    High: 10°C | Low: 3°C