BRIDGE WATCH DAY 8: Pub loses Â£47k during bridge closure

Chris Glackin, landlord of the White Hart in Corby. NNL-180510-203833005

The landlord of the White Hart in Corby Old Village says he is down by Â£47,000 since the Cottingham Road bridge closed in January.

The pub boss says that the delays to work bridge, which has had its reopening date changed several times, have pushed his business to the brink.

The Northants Telegraph launched Bridge Watch last week to try to put pressure on Network Rail to ensure the bridge reopens by the promised date of October 19.

The White Hart pub in Corby, where local people met to discuss the closure of the Cottingham Road bridge NNL-180510-203853005

Chris Glackin said that since the bridge has been closed, trade has dropped dramatically.

He said: “We’re the only pub in the Old Village without a late licence so people used to walk in from the town over the bridge and visit us first.

“They’d then go on to the other later venues.

“But they don’t get to us now. They get to the other pubs first and don’t make it around the corner. The route takes them away from here.

Chris Glackin, landlord of the White Hart has tried to branch out to offer a unique live music venue. NNL-180510-203734005

“We’ve refurbished one of the bars to try to create a really great live music venue and entice people here but we’re still losing money.

“There are no local faces here on a Friday and Saturday now.”

Other businesses have told the Northants Telegraph how they have been driven to the brink of closure by the over-running of the work on the bridge.

Chris opened his pub to the public on Friday as he hosted a public meeting about the closure.