Like I said in the title:
Pangbourne Parish Council websiteI vaguely recall that when the new bridge was built the old one was left in place because some sort of pipes ran underneath it.
A couple of years ago I'd just driven over the bridge towards Pangbourne when I met a very large lorry on my side of the road inching backwards towards the village.
I surmised that the driver had belatedly realised there was a weight restriction on the bridge. Dunno where he thought he was going to turn around - I suppose he could have gone down into Beale Wildlife Park had he been aware of the layout there. And Pangbourne Station car park would have been an option. A mile down the road, a police car was coming the other way, perhaps to help the driver.
Locals will know that on at least two occasions recently lorries have damaged buildings when trying to turn up the steep hill in Streatley. My casual Googling led to a lorry drivers' forum where members spoke of the problems of delivering heavy equipment and components to the correct side of the Thames for the electrification programme.
Marlburian
