Canal bridge remains closed to Wigan Athletic and Warriors fans due to 'structural safety' concerns
Calls are being made for a bridge used by football and rugby fans going to matches to be reopened as soon as possible.
Thousands of people use Walmsley bridge, which goes over the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, to walk from Springfield to The Brick Community Stadium.
But since New Year’s Day it has been closed on match days, after Wigan Athletic released a statement saying this was due to “public safety”.
Fans have been up in arms about the closure, which means a much longer journey from Springfield to the ground, and speculation about the reason for it has been rife.
And with the Wigan-Bolton derby looming this weekend, when thousands more fans than usual will be in the area, there is greater urgency.
But avoiding potentially serious accidents has to come before detours.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police told the Observer they were aware of the closure but were not responsible for it, following suggestions that it could be due to crime and anti-social behaviour.
Wigan Council has confirmed that the bridge has been shut amid concerns for its “structural safety”.
A council spokesperson said: “We recognise the impact that the closure of this bridge is having on fans and local businesses and it isn’t a decision that was made lightly.
“Public safety must always be the priority and the closure was based on advice that there were concerns about the structural safety of the bridge when at full capacity, as it is on match days.
“Working in partnership with the stadium and clubs, we are looking at options to make the bridge safe and will update as soon as we can.”
Harry Bristow, landlord of The Brickmakers Arms in Springfield, said he is fighting to find out when the bridge will be reopened on behalf of the fans who frequent his pub.
He said: “I couldn’t make any alternative arrangements for New Year’s Day. I lost 60 per cent of my trade in that one day.
"It’s putting more pressure on people who park in Springfield, because they have to go to the ground instead and pay. There’s extra money for drinks at the stadium because they can’t go to the pub.”
He has emailed the council and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy about the bridge and fears “the inevitable” – the closure of his pub – if the bridge does not reopen soon.
Mr Bristow said: “The impact will be massive. But it’s not just the impact on the pub, it’s the impact on the people who have been coming for years.”
He wants free buses to be provided to transport fans from Springfield to and from matches.
A spokesperson for Lisa Nandy MP said “Lisa has been in contact with the Wigan Athletic Supporters Club, the landlord of the Brickmakers Arms, and other constituents who have been affected by the closure of Walmsley bridge.
"On Thursday she met with council officers to stress the urgency of the situation and the need to resolve it as quickly as possible to provide certainty for fans, businesses and residents.
"The council has assured her that it is working at pace to reopen the bridge ahead of future matches.”
A Wigan Athletic spokesman said: “We understand the effect the closure of the canal foot bridge is having on supporters and we’re pushing to have the matter resolved as soon as practicably possible.”
But he declined to comment further, saying any updates would be provided through the club’s “usual communication channels”.