P J Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Cllr Parish, if you consider that post abusive you are clearly in the wrong job. More likely just an excuse to run from the justified criticism of the Councils record when it comes to the towns heritage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted March 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Sorry cross posting so I hadn't seen the replies from you Gayl or your photo's Wolfie.Good suggestions Gayl and like you say as it's the centenary of it soon a great time to start the ball rolling and to raise funds too. Count me in A lot of people were unaware that it is so old and also listed and I was talking about it yesterday when I was out and those who didn't know about it were rather fascinated too. The news coverage has certainly woken peoples interest but I hope they don't all try to get to it at once down the river path Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 It all comes back to money again, or rather the lack of it. However, it might help if the Council developed a heritage and tourism strategy that encompassed the retention of historic sites within tourism trails, which may bring visitors and their money to the Town. The UK probably has more "history" to brag about than most, but imo fails to properly commercialise it's use; with re-enactments for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P J Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Perhaps had the council not blown over £4million on the skittles and the depressing bridge street development, on what seemed one mans vanity project, we could have developed a heritage and history interest which would bring visitors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted March 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 A Heritage and Tourism strategy sounds a good idea Obs, I'm surprised they don't have something like that already though considering Warringon's rather impressive industrial past and also the large number of listed buildings etc that we have too and not forgetting it's impressive Roman history too. Even the Romans have been swept under the carpet round here despite so much being found on archaeological digs in the Wilderspool and Stockton Heath area. Anyway thats another topic and I'm digressing again but the lack of interest and the way it's not embraced to it's full potential by WBC is bloody annoying... sorry back to the Transporter Bridge now.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 The chap that took this had also scaled and photographed other transporter bridges. His comment for the Warrington was "Shame, turns out its a total derp! " whatever that means Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted March 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 I've found the two photo's I have. First one shows the first Crosfield's Transporter bridge that was further up on the bend of the river. Second photo shows the current and bigger one that was built 10 years later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Is there no way funding could be accessed as part of brownfield development of the site ,after all that is basically what has taken place at Salford Quays ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted March 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2015 Good idea and maybe that's possible and worth asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted March 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2015 The facebook group set up for the Transporter Bridge that was mentioned in the news report is here.... support is growing by the dayhttps://www.facebook.com/SaveWarringtonTransporterBridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 I’ve lived in Warrington the whole of my life and I guess I’m no different than the vast majority of people in that I knew it existed but have never seen it due to it being in the back of beyond. Sure it’s a small part of our industrial history but I for one would hate to see my money being spent at infinitum trying to prevent the never-ending rusting process. For the future, we have all the video and picture records we could ever need to remind us of our past and they cost nothing to maintain. Steve Parish is in a bit of a no win situation on this one but my hat’s off to him for coming into the lions den and voicing his personal opinion on the issue. It might not be official but what he says makes absolute sense to me and if we want to encourage more interaction with councillors then maybe we should a bit less aggressive when they join in. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffee Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Why is the bridge a heritage site?, it is not the oldest or the longest or any sort of engineering achievement.as far as I can tell. Agree with Bill. I would much rather see the cinema saved If it is to be preserved using public money it needs to be moved as suggested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P J Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Which cinema? If you mean the night club why? Is it the oldest or biggest anywhere or does that criteria only apply to things you aren't in favour of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Preservation in piecemeal isolation and for it's own sake is a rather short sighted proposition imo. Conservation needs to be part of an holistic strategy, that brings our heritage together in a usable space, similar to places like York. One of the best opportunities was (possibily still is) Church St; but would require some facsimile development to establish a proper conservation zone, that could attract visitors (and money) and be used to educate school kids etc. Unfortunately, the horse may have bolted. Land is now being sold on the corner of Farrel St and Church St; be interesting what design stipulations the planners place on any new build? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted March 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Are you suggesting moving the Transporter Bridge to Church Street Obs ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffee Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Which cinema? If you mean the night club why? Is it the oldest or biggest anywhere or does that criteria only apply to things you aren't in favour of? No but the Mr Smiths is a usable building, while the bridge is not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Errm, of course not Diz. The question is, is it worth preservation in it's own right, and could it be integrated into a tourism strategy that will be commercially viable? The purists believe in not touching (restoring) ancient ruins, but facsimile build can recreate an attraction for visitors. EG: The tomb of Tutenkamun (in Egypt) has been recreated in order to save the real tomb from damage due to moisture from visitors; slightly different reason, but end product is the same. York has the Jorvick centre and the 18C street museum, believe some include period actors, to enhance the flavour. Pure commercialism yes, but a possible revenue earner too. In the case of the transporter bridge, perhaps a working scale model in the museum would suffice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 For anyone who remembers, the Runcorn/Widnes transporter was a magnificent structure & would dwarf all the remaining UK transporters. I remember,as a child, going on a school trip from Beamont juniors on the day the present Runcorn Bridge was opened by a government minister, & we crossed the Mersey on the transporter on the day it closed. Transporter bridges though are an important step in the way commerce & industry has dealt with obstacles in its way & the very fact that we had one in Warrington should be recognised in some way either by restoration/preservation or a museum exhibition to remember the bridge. Incorporating the bridge in some future development would be preferable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 On Clydebank they have preserved some of the huge cantilever cranes that were used in the docks and shipyards, but I believe they had government funding for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbrakes Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Report and clip on BBC of Middlesbrough transporter bridge reopening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted March 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 No but the Mr Smiths is a usable building, while the bridge is not But the bridge has Grade II* listed status and Scheduled Ancient Monuments status too so could be eligible for heritage grant funding... where as Mr Smiths is neither so isn't and has to be private/council funded or have monies from the relevant pots that cover and that funds things like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted March 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Errm, of course not Diz. The question is, is it worth preservation in it's own right, and could it be integrated into a tourism strategy that will be commercially viable? The purists believe in not touching (restoring) ancient ruins, but facsimile build can recreate an attraction for visitors. EG: The tomb of Tutenkamun (in Egypt) has been recreated in order to save the real tomb from damage due to moisture from visitors; slightly different reason, but end product is the same. York has the Jorvick centre and the 18C street museum, believe some include period actors, to enhance the flavour. Pure commercialism yes, but a possible revenue earner too. In the case of the transporter bridge, perhaps a working scale model in the museum would suffice? I do see what you are saying but in my opinion it is worth preserving in it's own right as it's original and the only one of it's type, well ok was until the converted it from rail to car use but still pretty unique. Where it is it would probably be hard to integrate into a tourism strategy but that's not to say it wont be able to be in a few years down the line.... if it's still sanding by then of course. With all the big regeneration plans going on I;d have thought someone would have given it some thought but then again until Unilever/Crosfields move out the land is pretty much locked. As for a working scale model in the museum whoop whoop that sounds so exciting 'NOT' and with all respect who actually goes to the museum these days? Once a year maybe or even less and not a revenue earner as it's free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted March 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 On Clydebank they have preserved some of the huge cantilever cranes that were used in the docks and shipyards, but I believe they had government funding for that. I've just had a look online at the Titan Crane there, pretty cool and looks amazing with all the top lit up. You can even hire it for events and the jib section holds up to 55 people. Not sure I'd fancy and bungee jumping from it though. Got me thinking though, how great would the transporter bridge look with lights on and you can see it from the Pink Eye (Sankey Green) island and also from Liverpool Road as it is. I'm sure they could make the top section safe so people could go up there and not fall off. It wouldn't take much at all to make it accessible as from the south side of the River on the Slutchers Lane side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted March 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Report and clip on BBC of Middlesbrough transporter bridge reopening. Is this the clip Bob ? It looks really good now it's been done up although it's a lot bigger than ours. Theirs is only Grade II listed though so size isn't everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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