Cycling Over The Bowstring Bridge Leicester, 2009.

[bertyUK]

IS IT ME OR IS EVERYONE IN LEICESTER SOME KIND OF STUDENT THESE DAYS?

THAT'S WHY IT WAS DESTROYED...

TO MAKE WAY FOR MICKEY MOUSE DEGREES...

[Kyrano]

where is this within leicester?, im making a film for my art course and this would work great with it

[MrJames27011]

What has caused damage has been forty odd years of water trapped between the pathway and supporting ironwork. Now,you imagine forty years of water Freezing and expanding thawing. this over a long period of time has caused the ironwork below your feet to fracture and crack and also corrode thus weakening the bridge

[infliction9999]

i love this bridge and it should stay and i think it used to carry the great central over it it should stay it should be listed tbh i would like it to carry the railway or what ever it was designed for once again

[mamsdturbo]

im all for it becuase its old and got sum history, but no1s guna pay money just 4 that to b painted nd restored wat a waste!b just as much of a waste as that highcross shit!

[TheThewrongun]

This bridge used to be so beautiful in the summer, it was lined with big bushes with purple flowers, that attracted thousands of butterflies. It was truly a spectacle. I think the only way to save it now would be to prove that it is home to a number species of wildlife, and even then i think LCC would still pull it down. such a shame.

[spennyman85]

funny how the uni bought the bridge for a quid, they are also getting the scrap value for it and the leicester council are paying for the demolition out of local tax payers money, i wonder if residents who what this bridge to stay will get a rebate?

[AtheistAgent]

It's ugly, it's condemned and it's going down. End of story, bye bye.

[Owlesque1]

It's only ugly through neglect. It's unimaginative people like you that never question authority. And just the sort that after a restoration, re use and still never thinking about being a bit more independent minded, would say " you know, that bridge looks good now they restored it and made that mini camden market out of it." And you'll always be a nay sayer and someone that makes the world more bland, than if you applied some vision to your thinking.

[AtheistAgent]

It's a waste of space, and my vision is of a swimming pool. Explain to me the cultural significance of it compared to say, the Gateway, which is now no longer an island on a busy main road thanks to DMU. I bet you'll whine about their demolision of The Gateway College next? I'm sure the bridge may look nice with a few million in restoration, but frankly if English heritage don't think it's worth preserving then they're probably right, being far more informed than any of the protesters.

[Owlesque1]

It's a good job there are people in this world that 'whine' as you say. Otherwise we'd all just go along with everything anyone in a position of power wants. There'd be no vote for women, and Hitler's legacy would still hold this part of the world. You seem to see anyone questioning decisions as annoying. Well, I'm glad they give us a tiny bit of democaracy in this country, though not in this case in Leicester. Mercury open poll a week long gave 98% of Leices residents wanting bridge listed.

[zenoist2]

@AtheistAgent  please expl;ain to me why this bridge is demolished for a swimming pool?

A mid air swimming pool built over a road will be interesting to see.

[coltsuperocean10]

@AtheistAgent ...knobhead!!

[equinegal07]

Save the bridge LCC are stuip!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mardybum66]

This did actually used to be part of the Great Central Way cycle track - I used to use it - it was great that the end of the line was the Pump & Tap too! I never could understand why all of a sudden it was closed. Let's fight to keep this wonderful brigde and the pub too!

[mju141]

LCC need a reality check the people of Leicester will not let it go without a fight!

[harvesterone]

you video is spot on and i only hope someone on new walk watches it and realised what a wonderful opportunity for redevopmant this area of our city has, without the need for the council funded vandelism theyre proposing.

I hope its not too late.

[richardsnow]

It's solid and a beautiful example of victorian railway engineering.

Save it!!!

[eddie23a]

bordering on unsafe ? funny how they still allow traffic to drive under it, who are they trying to kid?

nothing but cultural vandalism if they demolish it, shame on you Leicester City Council

[aehihc]

I moved to Leicester 15 years ago and loved cycling over that bridge. It was, and would still be, a great start/end to a cycle along the Great Central Way.

[spooner666]

awesome!

ever since i ve been in leicester (4 years now) i have wanted to get onto that bridge. simply because it looks awesome up there.

i liked your idea about making it an art space/venue what an excellent place to have people meet. imagine at night light from cars from either side coming through the glass sides.

magic.

[KingLearie]

Nice one Lee - I got in at the same time but only had my stills camera. The reason the council wanted it gone because De Montfort wanted the land to build student accommodation and sports facilities. Even though all the local heritage organisations have said the same as you, the council officers and members have given the thumbs down but we still fighting. Due to the recesssion everything has stopped as far as regeneration is concerned so there will be no decision made either way....

[lestathreespirit]

It's a disgrace that this is no longer open. You are doing a brilliant job, keep up the good work. x

[GaryKoji]

Wicked vid man. I work for a local town council where our councillor views and local objections are constantly overturned by borough and city council departments. Money is always the key initiative. Kinda sux but I have yet to see a plan stopped on any grounds, even where therer are damn good reasons. I hope you get stuck in man and achieve this.

[Andyc18]

Bridge must be kept, they can defanitly restore that and clean it up a bit, if anyone from the council sees this.. Please don't demolish it!!

[lcfc67]

sorry about the selling,on the comment before but i think you all get the message

[lcfc67]

good vid clip lets he me of the prats that work for the council see this and have some sort of heart for the city insted of making a quick quid or to,but then tell me if im wrog it run by un british people like it has for a number of yrs thats why i left the city, i mite have irish,scotish in blackpool but at least we all speak the same english,sorry if ive up set anyone but thats how i feelay be open so i am.?.xxx

[Richyboy60]

If this bridge was built to carry a 100 ton locomotive it's going to take the weight of a cycle track!

Well done Lee keep it up!!

[kuttah196840]

Cheers for positive comments. The bridge engineered to take a constant load of around 1000 tons. They over engineered everything for safety.

[mickeyshoeshine]

Nice one Lee!

[VitaminDD]

Good job there, clearly the bridge will last an age.

But, will the short term views of a handful of council members win over those who oppose them?

Lets hope not. If only there were more socially motivated like yourself.

[MattDaly07]

Nice work and a brilliant effort put in by yourself. I'm a resident of the city centre myself and agree completely agree that the bridge needs to be saved. Its a nice reminder that we once had two great railway lines running through our city.

[Pipe2pipeBushman]

Good on ya me ode!

[ginapopcorn]

bridges were/are are made to last. What a great Vid clip. Haven't been on the bridge for a few years now.

[Artym1ss]

I e-mailed DMU to ask why, as patrons of the arts, they could justify the destruction of the Southgates mosaic. I got an acknowledgement of my e-mail from someone who was going to forward it to the relevant person but I have had no reply.

We need to preserve our unique heritage, not destroy it for the want of a few bob.

[KingLearie]

As the person who did those mosaics 15 years ago I 've had to stand and watch the lot disappear under concrete but I placate myself with the thought the it will make the city entrance to DMU* so lovely. Remember the misconceived underpass complex of the 70's was a pisshole and quite threatening to many. Most of the mosaic are preserved under wax,sand and plastic for future archeologists to ponder at .... ha ha - see me films instead!

[Artym1ss]

@KingLearie

just looking back over this....agreed, the underpass was a pisshole but I had hoped they might keep the bowl shaped part with the solar system, or maybe move it in sections to somewhere else.

[Artym1ss]

Leicester City Council seem to be hell bent on removing anything that might cost them a few bob. Swimming baths, costume museum (nice profit from the sale of the building there though, I expect) Granby Halls. They also allowed De Montfort University to destroy the only large scale piece of mosaic work with both artistic and scientific merit in Leicester - the Southgates Underpass had a mosaic of the universe laid out to scale (with measurements) on hand fired ceramic tiles.

[kuttah196840]

DMU does not own the bridge. The council do. DMU is interested in improving its fortunes. The council should appreciate the bridge, have some vision and be preserving it anyway, without us having to plead with them. They should never have considered any development offer that threatened a landmark. It all boils down to getting money for the land, and a lack of forethought.

[scoobyginger]

Good work mate

[kingblag]

What do you expect from Leicester City Council? I guess the same people who want to tear down the bow string bridge are the same who closed St margarets baths to build the high cross on and granby halls to be turned into a car park! this should be saved and used as a cycle route or why not cover it and the sides and turn it into a restaurent/ nightclub if that fails. no doubt it's been bungs all round to knock it down!

[foxypablo]

Lovely work, Lee. I feel a bit more attached to it now

[nebulaaah]

Nice one mate, yeah bridge is a landmark, must stay.