Hawarden Bridge (Listing No: 85250)
Heritage Statement
January 2021
This report has been prepared for Sustrans in accordance with the terms and conditions of appointment. Optimum Engineering Consultancy cannot accept any responsibility for any use of or reliance on the contents of this report by any third party.
Revision 02
Index
1 Introduction ...... 1
2 Rationale ...... 3
3 Heritage Statement ...... 3
3.1 The Site and Brief History ...... 3
3.2 Proposed Works ...... 4
3.3 Discussions of Potential Impact of the Development ...... 4
Appendicies
A DRAWINGS
B EXISTING PHOTOGRAPHS
Hawarden Bridge (82520), Flintshire Heritage Statement for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
Issue and Revision Record
Document Title Hawarden Bridge, Heritage Statement – Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
Version 02
Status For Comment
Filename Heritage Statement – Hawarden Bridge – Re-decking (14-01-21)
Revision Notes Date
None
Signature Name Date
Prepared by Simon Harding 14-01-21
Checked by
Approved by
About Sustrans
Sustrans are a registered UK charity who are custodians of the National Cycle Network, a UK-wide network of traffic-free paths for everyone, connecting cities, towns and countryside, loved by the communities they serve.
Sustrans have a licenced agreement (Ref HWB04401) with Railtrack PLC to construct and maintain the cantilevered walkway and cycleway that is fixed to the east elevation of Hawarden Bridge.
Sustrans’ office address is at:
Sustrans - North West 5th Floor Hanover House 30-32 Charlotte St Manchester M1 4FD
Tel: 0161 923 6050 Email: [email protected]
The Sustrans contact for this work is:
Will Haynes – Infrastructure Director – 0161 923 6050 /
Optimum Engineering contact for this work is:
Simon Harding – Consulting Engineer – 01352 753840
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re-
decking (14-01-21) - 2 -
Hawarden Bridge (82520), Flintshire Heritage Statement for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
1 Introduction
1.1 This Heritage Statement has been produced in support of a Listed Building Consent Application for the replacement of the existing walkway/cycleway deck that is connected to the east elevation of Hawarden Bridge (Listed No: 85250) in the county of Flintshire, North Wales
1.2 This Listed Building Consent Application is being submitted by Sustrans Limited to Flintshire County Council for consideration within its planning department.
2 Rationale
2.1 Sustrans are the owners of the cantilevered walkway/cycleway and are responsible for its maintenance.
2.2 The existing timber deck is approximately 17-years old and Sustrans have been carrying out increasingly frequent essential replacement of individual decayed timber deck planks. They now consider that this is becoming a safety issue and have recommended a complete deck replacement to safeguard the public and extend the serviceable life and use of the structure.
2.3 In order to provide a durable decking material with a 25-year (minimum) serviceable life they wish to use a composite glass fibre decking plank with resin bearers that utilises existing fixing holes in the steelwork.
2.4 The works are considered to have very limited or no impact on the appearance of the bridge. The works will allow the continued use and enjoyment by the public.
3 Heritage Statement
3.1 The Site and Brief History
3.1.1 Hawarden Bridge is a Grade 2 listed railway bridge that crosses the River Dee between Queensferry and Garden City in Flintshire, North Wales (NGR 331087E, 369377N).
3.1.2 The bridge is owned by Network Rail and comprises seven land-based, western, brick arches and three steel trusses that cross over the River Dee to the east. A cantilevered steel cycleway/walkway is attached to the south east elevation. This is owned and maintained under licence by Sustrans.
3.1.3 The bridge was built for the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company in 1889. Span 10 was, at the time, the largest swing bridge in the United Kingdom. This span is now fixed in position due to there no longer being any tall ships using the river.
3.1.4 The bridge currently carries the Bidston to Wrexham General Railway Line and a pedestrian/cycle path. The path is an important strategic route; being part of Flintshire County Council’s Active Travel Integrated Network and the Wales Coast Path / Chester Greenway Railway Path (NCN Route 5).
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re-
decking (14-01-21) - 3 -
Hawarden Bridge (82520), Flintshire Heritage Statement for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
3.1.5 The 172m long cantilevered walkway was originally only 1.26m wide with a 1.19m high parapet. This was widened in 2003 to 2.5m overall width with a 1.6m high parapet.
3.1.6 The supporting steelwork comprises of two outer longitudinal 100x100x14mm RSA’s with their outer upstands at 2.3m spacing. A central longitudinal 102x152x17mm Tee section supports the centre of each plank. Transverse main cantilever supports are spaced at approximately 1.3m centres.
3.2 Proposed Works
3.2.1 Listed Building Consent is sought to remove and replace the existing decayed timber deck planks with a composite glass fibre plank.
3.2.2 The decking planks are only available from Polydeck Limited and are made in the UK. The recommended product is a 45mm thick x 197mm wide GRIPFAST® plank (see link) with an integral gritted surface finished in black. A sample can be provided if required.
3.2.3 The planks are made with a structural recycled plastic foam core that is wrapped in glass fibre with a polyester resin bonded anti-slip aggregate
3.2.4 The planks will be screw fixed to 25/30mm resin bearers that are bolted to the top faces of the longitudinal steel supports using existing holes.
3.2.5 The manufacture states a design life of 60-years.
3.3 Discussions of Potential Impact of the Development
3.3.1 Installation of the new deck will allow members of the public to continue to safely use the bridge for commuting to/from work and recreational leisure use.
3.3.2 The works is over the River Dee and an Ecological Impact Assessment has been produced detailing the likely ecological impacts of the proposals on the designated River Dee Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Area if Conservation (SAC) and Dee Estuary SSSI, SAC, Special Protection Area (SPA), Ramsar. Natural Resources approvals and consents will be obtained.
3.3.3 Details of the works will be provided to Railtrack. Site works that may affect the railway safety will be supervised by Network Rail.
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re-
decking (14-01-21) - 4 -
Hawarden Bridge (82520), Flintshire Heritage Report for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
A P P E N D I X A
DRAWINGS
- OPT/041/001 – Location Plan
- OPT/028/002 – Existing General Arrangement
- OPT/028/003 – Proposed General Arrangement
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re- - A1 - decking (14-01-21)
Hawarden Bridge (85250), Flintshire Heritage Report for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
A P P E N D I X B
EXISTING PHOTOGRAPHS
1. South east elevation
2. South east elevation showing cantilevered walkway
3. Underside of walkway showing replacement planks and utilities cable duct
4. Underside of walkway showing replacement planks
5. Underside of walkway showing inner fixing detail
6. Underside of walkway showing replacement C16 timber decking plank
7. View east along walkway showing replacement softwood and Sapele hardwood planks with screwed anti-slip strips
8. View west along walkway showing replacement softwood planks with screwed bonded ant-slip coating
9. Sapele hardwood replacement planks with anti-slip strips and railway fencing along inner edge
10. Various replacement planks with worn anti-slip coating and screwed anti-slip strips
11. Removal of planks showing longitudinal support members
12. Outer plank fixing detail – 17mm holes at 235mm c/c’s in 100x100x14mm Equal angle (note corrosion where self-tapping bolts have been used).
13. Outer plank fixing detail over transverse support members where plank is notched over bolts – 17mm holes at 90mm c/c’s in 100x100x14mm Equal angle (note corrosion where 100mm x 5mm self-tapping (Tec) bolts have been used).
14. Centre of transverse support members (note corrosion where 100mm x 5mm self- tapping (Tec) bolts have been used)
15. Retro fit centre longitudinal support plate fixing plate below plank
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re- - B1 - decking (14-01-21)
Hawarden Bridge (85250), Flintshire Heritage Report for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
1. South east elevation
2. South east elevation showing cantilevered walkway
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re- - B2 - decking (14-01-21)
Hawarden Bridge (85250), Flintshire Heritage Report for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
3. Underside of walkway showing replacement planks and utilities cable duct
4. Underside of walkway showing replacement planks
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re- - B3 - decking (14-01-21)
Hawarden Bridge (85250), Flintshire Heritage Report for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
5. Underside of walkway showing inner fixing detail
6. Underside of walkway showing replacement C16 timber decking plank
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re- - B4 - decking (14-01-21)
Hawarden Bridge (85250), Flintshire Heritage Report for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
7. View east along walkway showing replacement softwood and Sapele hardwood planks with screwed anti-slip strips
8. View west along walkway showing replacement softwood planks with screwed bonded ant-slip coating
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re- - B5 - decking (14-01-21)
Hawarden Bridge (85250), Flintshire Heritage Report for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
9. Sapele hardwood replacement planks with anti-slip strips and railway fencing along inner edge
10. Various replacement planks with worn anti-slip coating and screwed anti-slip strips
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re- - B6 - decking (14-01-21)
Hawarden Bridge (85250), Flintshire Heritage Report for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
11. Removal of planks showing longitudinal support members
12. Outer plank fixing detail – 17mm holes at 235mm c/c’s in 100x100x14mm Equal angle (note corrosion where self-tapping bolts have been used)
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re- - B7 - decking (14-01-21)
Hawarden Bridge (85250), Flintshire Heritage Report for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
13. Outer plank fixing detail over transverse support members where plank is notched over bolts – 17mm holes at 90mm c/c’s in 100x100x14mm Equal angle (note corrosion where 100mm x 5mm self-tapping (Tec) bolts have been used)
14. Centre of transverse support members (note corrosion where 100mm x 5mm self-tapping (Tec) bolts have been used)
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re- - B8 - decking (14-01-21)
Hawarden Bridge (85250), Flintshire Heritage Report for Cycleway/Walkway Deck Replacement
15. Retro fit centre longitudinal support plate fixing plate below plank
Heritage Statement - Hawarden Bridge - Re- - B9 - decking (14-01-21)