THE council is set to purchase land next to a bridge in Summerseat which was badly damaged in the 2015 Boxing Day floods.

Bury Council is looking to approve using compulsory purchase powers to buy land on and around Kay Street bridge so the work to reopen it can go ahead.

The land is currently in private ownership and the bridge has been closed to vehicles since the flooding in 2015.

At the Cabinet meeting tomorrow councillors will decide whether to approve compulsory purchase proceedings in order to start repairs to the damaged bridge.

The land which the council needs access to is in two separate ownerships and the council has requested agreements from the landowners for the work.

However, to avoid delay councillors are proposing to start the purchase order proceedings to run alongside the negotiations.

The bridge and neighbouring Waterside Inn were damaged when Storm Eva hit Bury, causing unprecedented flooding.

This left the bridge with no physical barrier on one side which has meant that the bridge has since been closed to vehicles for safety reasons.

The council proposes to repair the damaged bridge to include a parapet and also to widen it to include a separate footway.

The agenda at the meeting explains the other Irwell crossing in Summerseat, Railway Street, is 'ill suited' to the increase in traffic caused by the closure of the Kay Street bridge.

The report says: "The route has, in parts, no footways, a single traffic lane, a height restriction and a blind bend which has necessitated the installation of temporary traffic signals in order to reduce potential conflict and mitigate safety concerns.

"This has led to issues with congestion in peak hours, drivers speeding and vehicles having to pass each other where substandard carriageway width exists."

Bury North MP James Frith praised the council's actions.

He said: "I welcome the move by Bury Council to press ahead with purchasing the land in order to get on with repairing the bridge.

"Residents in Summerseat have had to suffer long enough and I hope the process will move forward quickly to minimise further disruption."