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Work continues on bridge in Penkridge to make it safe for vehicles after New Years Eve incident

Staff from the Canal and Rivers Trust (CRT) are still working outside a Penkridge pub where part of a culvert by a bridge collapsed on New Year's Eve, sparking fears of its collapse.

By Paul Jenkins
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A reported 15-feet-wide-hole appeared at the side of Lock 38 on the Staffs and Worcester canal after a pipe burst at the old lock keeper's cottage. The resulting water  washed away part of the foundations of the bridge itself, next to The Boat Inn.

The bridge and tunnel were both closed on Thursday morning. Photo: Steve Leath
A broken culvert close to the bridge over the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal at Penkridge has meant brick, sand, and debris has been washed from under the corner of the bridge and a house and been deposited in the canal . Engineers have been on site since New Years Day to make the bridge safe

Since the incident, workers from the CRT have been on site, with the area around the bridge quickly re-opened to pedestrians. Staffordshire County Council deciding to keep it closed to vehicles on the request of the trust as a precaution.

Rebecca Clayton, a staff member at the Boat Inn, said she understood the bridge would be closed to traffic for some days yet and they were getting used to the team being on site.

Silt and debris can be seen near the entrance of the tunnel
Engineers have been on site at a bridge next to The Boat Inn at Penkridge since a pipe burst on New Years Eve, amid fears for the safety of the surrounding area.

She said: "There is a lot of activity going on and although nothing official has been said it seems it won't re-open until it is completely safe for vehicles to cross as they are worried about further damage to the structure."

In a statement, the CRT said a channel taking excess water around Lock 38 on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal had suffered damage along its route below Cannock Road .

It said:  "The channel is likely to be part of the original James Brindley canal build, so dates back around 250 years."

"While the damaged channel passed beneath both the old lock cottage and the road, there were no signs of harm to the highway, although trust engineers would be on site again to carry out a detailed inspection.

"We asked for Cannock Road to be closed as a precaution. There are currently no official timetables yet for reopening or repair completion, and the situation is evolving but we are working hard to restore the bridge."

The council said that signposted diversions were in place, and any canal user affected by the situation should contact the trust.