PLANS have been lodged to carry out ‘critical’ repairs to a grade II listed bridge in south Cumbria.

Westmorland and Furness Council has submitted a planning application to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to carry out repairs to Straight Bridge near Sedbergh, which dates back to the late 17th or early 18th century.

The bridge carries the A683 Cautley Road, which is a wide single carriageway road, over the River Rawthey.

Planning documents warn that if works are not undertaken, the condition of the bridge will continue to ‘deteriorate’, which could compromise the ‘whole structure’ of the bridge as well as ‘public safety’.

Works include repairing parapets and coping stones on the bridge in a bid to ‘preserve the life’ of the structure.

According to plans the aim of the proposed works is to maintain the structural integrity of the bridge while ensuring the ‘historical value’ of the site is not undermined as well as protecting wildlife in the nearby vicinity.

This planning application is currently under consideration by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.