End of an era as Bowstring Bridge demolition begins
Demolition work to pull down a historic bridge in Leicester's West End started yesterday.
It brought two years of campaigning to save the Bowstring Bridge to an unsuccessful end.
Preparation work began on site last month after the city council agreed it should be knocked down to enable De Montfort University to build a sports centre.
Yesterday onlookers stopped to take one last look as workmen began pulling apart the old railway bridge, which has been a landmark on Duns Lane since the reign of Queen Victoria.
Student Katie Marshall, 19, stopped to take photos of the iconic railings being removed.
She said: "It's a shame to see it go – it seems like the end of an era for this part of Leicester."
Onlooker Matt Hunt, 24, of the West End said: "It's a sad day for all the people that have been campaigning to keep the bridge. There's no going back now."
The demolition was held up on Monday when 39-year-old Karen Green chained herself to the bridge for 12 hours.
Stuart Simmonds, who has helped lead protests to preserve the Victorian landmark, conceded on Wednesday that the failure of a last ditch attempt to secure listed status meant it was "game over".
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by David, Leicester
Friday, November 13 2009, 3:35PM
“Leics council rotten to the core. As it was a Great Central bridge, why dont people now get behind the preserved Great Central Railway and their plans to extend back into Leics from Birstall?”
by Sandie (Save the Bowstring Bridge protester), Westcotes
Friday, November 13 2009, 3:13PM
“I would like to personally extend a warm invitation to Nick Di Perna to attend 'Bridgestock' (a celebration of The Bowstring Bridge and the long hard-fought campaign to save it and big farewell party for a much-loved pub) at the Pump and Tap tomorrow. 7pm onwards.
I think it'll be a great opportunity for him to broaden his horizons in an intellectual sense and to actually meet some real people.
I look forward to meeting him enormously!”
by B E Real, Planet Leicester
Friday, November 13 2009, 1:46PM
“How sad... for the Leicester Mercury I mean, glad to see and hopefully hear the back of the "Bowstring Birdge" saga!!
What will the mecrcury fill its "news" and letters pages with now?
Perhaps someone should start a campaign to star a new campaign!
The Mercury could run a competition to see who can come up with the best reason to campaign!
Can anyone tell me what happened to the "eco town", its seems to have gone quiet?”
by Michael Clarke, Norfolk
Friday, November 13 2009, 1:29PM
“ITs not been a two year campaign, but an amazing THIRTEEN YEARS OF OPPOSITION supported stead fastidly by the Leicester Mercury throughout, I still have the opinion column that kick started the campaign to save the bridge. Many thanks for your efforts. It has been a fantastic effort by every body that loves the bridge and the old West End.
Start preparing to oppose DMU's advance on Castle Gardens, The Castle and St Mary de Castro. Why not they've taken every thing else!”
by steve, leicester
Friday, November 13 2009, 1:23PM
“Nick, you are obviously an intelligent person, so why is it that every day when I read your posts, I just have an image of someone who is smug, arrogant and a loner? People who say that no one cares no doubt don't care (but still take the time to tell everyone they don't care?), and people who have campaigned are obviously fighting for something close to their hearts, but you seem so bitter about something? If you committed to a cause instead of commenting on every story I have read on this site and even youtube then you could be such an asset to whichever group you ally to. No doubt you will have some witty retort to this in a minute. I offer constructive criticism not abuse.”