COMMUNITY leaders are appealing for Government help to fund ‘urgent’ repairs to Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge, after British Waterways admitted it is ‘struggling’ to raise the £4.5m needed to revamp the rusty eyesore at this important gateway to Frodsham.

For more than a decade, residents have been pressing bridge owners, British Waterways, to refurbish the rusty 90-year-old structure which crosses the A56 over the Weaver Navigation and is used by an average 20,000 vehicles a day – but there is still no firm plan in place to restore this vital arterial road link and landmark.

Sutton Parish Council and Frodsham Town Council are appealing for the Government to step in and get things moving.

Sutton Council chair and former mayor of Frodsham, Cllr Mike Pusey, said: “It’s been dragging on for years and still nothing is happening. It’s ridiculous how long it’s taking but we are trying to drive it forward.”

Meanwhile, it’s understood that Cheshire West and Chester Council continues to foot hefty bills for repairs to the bridge’s road surface, which keeps breaking up because of shifting metal plates beneath the deck – another “great concern” expressed by Sutton Parish Council in its letter to former Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond.

In the letter, the parish council stresses residents are so concerned about the state of the bridge they feel “duty-bound to complain at the highest level.”

Councillors told Mr Hammond they fear British Waterways and CWaC Council cannot afford to meet the full cost of a complete refurbishment - including repairs to structural steelwork, deck and road surface and painting – “and we must now look to Central Government for a solution.”

Frodsham Town Council have backed the appeal for help in a letter to new Transport Secretary, Justine Greening.

Frodsham Mayor, Cllr Andrew Dawson, said: “We are all desperately frustrated about the situation. It’s been put in the too-difficult-to-do box by too many people, while we’ve looked on enviously as British Waterways have done very good jobs of upgrading bridges in Northwich and on the A49.

“It needs sorting and it’s time something was happening.”

Sally Boddy, Engineering Manager for British Waterways, told The Chronicle: “British Waterways and Cheshire West and Chester Council have shared responsibility for maintaining the swing bridge, and both parties are keen to see an end to problems associated with it and are working closely together to reach a solution.

“A full refurbishment is expected to cost in excess of £4.5m, with painting alone more than £1.5m.

“British Waterways is struggling to find sufficient funding, and to justify undertaking painting work in isolation, so we are considering forwarding a proposal to Central Government for supplementary funding.”

She added: “The project remains high on British Waterways’ agenda and we will continue to work with the council to reach a solution in the near future.

“We welcome any support from the local community in helping us to lobby for additional funding.”