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Landmark bridge is one year old today
ONE year ago plans to create an iconic footbridge over the River Aire at Castleford finally came to fruition.
Twelve months on and the stunning S-shaped bridge has become a symbol of the ambitious drive to regenerate the former pit town.
Members of the local community gathered to celebrate the first birthday of the award-winning bridge which has received national attention and scooped a host of building and design honours throughout its first year.
The 4.8m bridge was the most ambitious scheme in the Castleford Project regeneration plan and took centre stage in a Channel 4 show about the project presented by Kevin McCloud.
Local resident Wendy Rayner, who was instrumental in getting the bridge project moving and who featured on the TV show, said: "It's been absolutely mind-blowing for us because we never knew how much it would put us on the map. We thought it would be mainly used by local people but we have had people come to see it from Australia, America and Denmark.
"The riverside has never been used as a beauty spot before but now it has become a place for people to go and a lovely place to sit and that's just what we always intended." Yesterday afternoon's celebrations included Roman re-enactments, clowns, fun rides and children's entertainment on both sides of the bridge.
Children were also asked to bring their favourite teddies to form a link across the bridge.
The bridge won an honour for excellence from the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Pro-Yorkshire Award for Community Benefit.
It also won a special award for partnership working from the Civic Trust and a national Waterways Renaissance award in the community
category.
Coun Peter Box, leader of Wakefield Council, said: "It's fantastic to see celebrations marking the first anniversary of this iconic bridge.
"The profile of Castleford is on the up and the bridge has become an icon - not just within the community but across the country.
"It has been nationally recognised by the awards it has won recently and these accolades are further proof of its popularity and importance.
"The country is now waking up to what we are all working towards and achieving in our district and I am immensely proud to see the bridge recognised by so many people.
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
