Work begins to lift 40-tonne Stokesay Castle crane

Thursday 20th January 2011, 12:51PM GMT.

Cranes in place to life the 40-tonne crane which came to grief near Stokesay Castle a year ago

A retrieval operation was under way today to move a 40-tonne crane which fell down an embankment near Shropshire’s Stokesay Castle almost a year ago.

The crane, valued at £200,000, overturned on January 26 on an unclassified road behind the castle near Craven Arms. The driver was not hurt.

Two cranes were on site today to assist with the removal of the plant from the site.

Harold Marsh, the farmer who owns the land where the crane is, said today he was glad it was nearly over. He said: “It has been a bit of a worry.”

Negotiations have been taking place over the last year about how best to move the crane.

A series of conditions were agreed with Shropshire Council in November, these include taking the crane apart before it leaves the site.

Simon Alton, spokesman for Shropshire Council, said: “There has been no application for a road closure but we are aware that the crane is being moved today.”

1
Phil K

January 20, 2011 at 14:30

I’m just amazed that any company can afford to leave a £200,000 asset depreciating and decaying in a field, and not earning any revenue, for nearly 12 months. I can imagine that permits, method statements and risk assessments for the Elf and Safety mob could take a bit of time, but 12 months???

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2
Matt

January 21, 2011 at 15:27

Oh. So it was the Clownty Council that blocked the recovery?

Any properly trained recovery firm would have surveyed the job and had it done in a day or two. But with Shropsire Clownty Council it took a year. That’s not good enough. Pull yourselves together!

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