Peace finally breaks out in battle over ‘monstrosity’ rail bridge in Croston
Peace has finally broken out in a four-year war over an "eyesore" village bridge.
Residents are claiming victory after the rebuilt viaduct over the railway in Croston was given a more rural look.
A local artist was allowed by owners Network Rail to paint a country scene on the controversial steel parapets in Meadow Lane.
And now campaigners say: "We are more than pleased with the end result. The bridge seems to disappear in the sky and our countryside has come back."
The battle began in the summer of July 2018 when Network Rail announced it was rebuilding the bridge on the A581.
The railings which ran along both sides were removed and solid steel barriers introduced in their place.
The new-look enraged locals who formed a protest group and launched a petition.
An offer to paint the steel in shades of green, grey and blue was met with another volley of protest from furious villagers.
An anonymous benefactor stepped in and covered the parapets in a vinyl wrap showing a rural scene and messages of 'Welcome to Croston' and 'Thanks for Visiting' on either side.
That caused Network Rail to let off steam, with a spokesman declaring: "Changing the appearance of our property without our permission is illegal." So the wrap was peeled off, leaving cold steel yet again.
Now, after more peace talks, the two sides have reached a ceasefire and a freshly-painted countryside scene now greets visitors as they enter Croston.
Local parish councillor Kath Almond, who is chair of the Meadow Lane Bridge Action Group, said: "We still miss our railings, but now we have a feature which will amuse people for many years to come.
"The new bridge, when it was first unveiled, was just a steel monstrosity. It is now much more in-keeping with the village and is acceptable to residents."
Helena Williams, Network Rail project manager, said: “While we have a duty to ensure the railway is safe and reliable for road and rail users, we’ve learned a valuable lesson that our infrastructure matters to local people and the area they live in.
“We’d like to thank the local action group and people in Croston for their patience, cooperation and ingenuity to create a new feature for their beautiful village which can enjoyed for years to come.”