Safety fears over crack in Shifnal railway bridge wall
A "huge" crack that appeared on the wall of a railway bridge over a month ago is putting lives at risk, town councillors said today.
It appeared at the top right corner of the bridge in Shifnal and a tree can be seen growing on top of the unstable brickwork.
Shifnal Town Council was first alerted to the problem last month and since then has contacted Network Rail twice to get the wall repaired.
But town clerk Mac Sandal said no action had yet been taken and if the wall should fall there would be "dire consequences".
However, during a meeting with Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard about the Shifnal Neighbourhood Plan on Friday, the topic was raised again – and Mr Pritchard has vowed to take the matter in hand.
Town clerk Mac Sandal said: "We are worried because the crack is huge and it looks very unsafe. It is a very busy passage under the railway bridge and there is also a public toilet there.
"We first noticed the crack at a meeting on June 18 and since then we have contacted Network Rail twice. Mark Pritchard will now write to them again to try and get the issue resolved. If parts of the wall fall onto Market Place, the consequences would be dire."
Town mayor Robert Harrop said the area had been "safeguarded".
