BRIDGE WATCH DAY 1: Our campaign to get Corby's rail bridge to reopen on time

For nine months, people in Corby have had to put up with delay after delay since Network Rail closed a major road while workers heightened the railway line.

Cottingham Road is a main route from Corby town to the Old Village. Since it closed, businesses in the village say they have experienced a drop in footfall, with parts of the once-busy shopping streets said to be like a ghost town.

Motorists have struggled with having to use other routes to get through to the village and traders have said that there are not enough signs telling them of alternative routes.

The work was initially due to end on August 14, but that was then extended to September 10, and then September 29 with little notice.

And last week, it was announced just days before the closure was due to end that it would now be extended to October 19.

Network Rail said they would also begin an immediate advertising campaign to help businesses cope.

So today the Northants Telegraph has launched Bridge Watch to ensure that Network Rail stick to their word and reopen the bridge in order for the Old Village businesses to be sure their footfall increases in the vital run up to Christmas.

Every day, for the coming 19 days, we’ll remind them of their pledge to the people of Corby.

Corby’s Labour Prospective Parliamentary candidate Beth Miller said: “This is a great campaign that I’m happy to support.

“Local businesses have suffered and they need clarity on when the bridge will be finished, the sooner, the better!

“I’ve organised a meeting next week with businesses in the Old Village and Network Rail - I’m hopeful we can finally get some commitments and I’ll be urging Network Rail to look at making a gesture of goodwill to the businesses that have suffered.”

Network Rail: the clock is ticking....