The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-06-09 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE.

CROSSING OF THE RAILWAY AT WAVERTREE-
LANE.
TO 171 E EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST.4NDARD.
81a,—It has long been to me a matter of surprise, that no
steps have been taken by the owners of the land on the road
to Wavertree which is crossed by railway, or by those in
authority, to insist on the Liverpool and - Manchester Rail-
way Company immediately constructing a bridge or viaduct
over their railway at Plumbe's Hall. Ever since the opening
of the railway, passengers (whether on foot or riding) on the
Wavertree road, which is a great thoroughfare, are exposed
to delay and danger by the frequent passing of railway trains
at a rapid rate across the lane,.and on a level with it. True,
the company have built a lodge or gate-house at each side,
and a bell is rung to give warning to riders or pedestrians to
keep off; but this, though the cost must be considerable,
does not abate the inconvenience, and but in a partial degree
the danger. Suppose the horse or horses in a carriage or
vehicle of any description, or a horse which is ridden, should
take fright and become unmanageable, the tinkling of a bell
would be of no avail, the only chance of escape from injury
being generally in the exhaustion produced by a run' of some
distance,-in place of which it might happen that the terrified •
animal would, in furiously gallopping along, come in contact
with the still more furiously rushing-in train, in which case
both rider and horse would be irremediably dashed to pieces !
Such fatalities might be averted, and the inconvenience no-'
ticed be effectually removed, by the building of a bridge over
the railway. In 1838 such' a step was, it appears, in contem-
plation by the company, 'for I then noticed poles erected of
various heights on the south side of the road, with cross
pieces at the top marking out the gradual rise of the inclined
planes to rise to the bridge, and the elevation of the bridge
itself ; but
.these were soon afterwards removed, so that it is
to be assumed that they have abandoned the intention they
then entertained. The public, however, have a right to de-
mand the erection of a bridge, at a point so near the town,
so much frequented, and so much exposed ; and I hope some
individual or individuals will take up the question, and bring
i a safe and successful issue. Indeed, lam wining-Eu
hope that th'C'Hailway Company have only to have their
serious attention directed to the necessity of the proposed
protective structure, to set about accomplishing it without
further delay. The cost would not be very,great, but, what-
ever it would be, that ought not be a cOnsideratinin oppo-
sition to the public safety. When it is dOlifif would sug-
gest that -the embankment on the west side of' ille bridge
should commence oh the rise of the lane considerably nearer
to Edge-hill, and that the inclined plane should on the east
side be eased by extension towards Wavertree. By this
means the road would be very little, if at all, affected as to
its level.
As I notice that you occasionally devote a• portion of your
columns to the suggestion and advocacy of public improve-
ments, I need not, 1 trust, apologise for expressing, through •
your useful paper, an opinion in which I feel.confident I shall
meet with the concurrence of thousands:of Ivy fellow-towns-
men.—l am, sir, yours, respectfully, •