People are being forced to walk a 42-minute diversion down the River Mersey while a footbridge is closed for repairs which could take up to nine months – but some are ignoring the signs and crossing the 'unsafe' structure anyway. The Jackson's Boat bridge which connects Chorlton to Sale was fenced off after Manchester council deemed it too dangerous to be used by the public.
But the nearest alternative crossings, at Chorlton Water Park or Stretford Ees, are more than a mile away adding 42 minutes to the journey for those walking. And the Local Democracy Reporting Service has seen evidence of people ignoring the signs and crossing over the bridge, disregarding the warnings.
Claire Stocks, who lives in Chorlton, often crosses the bridge on her daily walk. She said: "Jackson’s Boat bridge is a very old and much loved structure, used by hundreds of people every single day to walk or cycle around the area, and is a commuting link between Sale and Manchester.
