SIR — I was interested to read the article about the hopefully temporarily closed footbridge at Watchet in last week's Free Press.
I read that enquiries were made of the WSR concerning the ex-Trowbridge footbridge which stands in the yard at Williton Station, although no enquiries came to me.
The reply from railway officers implying that there would be no saving by using the Williton footbridge is, of course, quite correct. In any case this bridge is not redundant.
For many years railway volunteers at Williton have been raising the money needed to erect this bridge.
Then when the time comes that the track and signalling alterations can be completed to enable longer trains to pass each other at Williton, passengers will still be able to cross safely from one platform to the other.
This is intended to be on our historic 19th century GWR footbridge.
Having saved up over half the required money, we are just launching an appeal for the rest. Raising money for such a big project is quite an achievement for one station.
I have passed on the names of two steelwork companies who do such repair work to West Somerset Council.
I was also reminded that about 20 years ago, when I held a different position on the railway, I was asked to meet an officer from Somerset County Council at Watchet Station to discuss a replacement footbridge.
The idea was to erect another bridge which the council had in stock which would have had ramped access instead of steps.
Although this would have been convenient for many people, it would have been extremely ugly as the span would have gone right across the station yard.
I presume his project fell through.
Obviously the footbridge is necessary for safety even more than convenience, and I would hope that a firm of suitable bridge repairers can be found who do not quote an unnecessarily high price. We have already been along that path at Williton.
Christopher van den Arend,
Station Master,
Williton.