A bale of straw is hanging from London’s Millennium Bridge as a part of a “quirky tradition” to warn river visitors of upkeep and restore work.
The bridge shall be closed till 5 November so it may be cleaned and for the alternative of a layer of membrane on the construction.
Work is predicted beneath the bridge, triggering a London byelaw to hold the bale of straw to alert visitors on the Thames to the discount in headroom.
City Bridge Foundation, a charity which takes care of the Thames crossings in London, stated a “practical purpose” was being served by the straw.
“This is one of those quirky traditions London is famous for, but it also does serve a practical purpose, to warn shipping when the headroom under a bridge span is reduced,” the charity instructed City AM.
“The bundle of straw is lowered by our contractor when they’re doing work under the bridge, in this case to install netting ahead of work to replace the separation layer between the aluminium bridge deck and the steel structure underneath.”
In a put up on X, previously referred to as Twitter, City Bridge Foundation added: “In accordance with ancient tradition (and the Port of London Thames Byelaws) a bundle of straw is dangled from Millennium Bridge to warn shipping of work under the bridge (we’re not making this up, honest).”
The suspension of the straw by day and a “white light” at evening is talked about within the Port Of London Thames Byelaws, clause 36.2.
It states: “When the headroom of an arch or span of a bridge is reduced from its usual limits, but that arch or span is not closed to navigation, the person in control of the bridge must suspend from the centre of that arch or span by day a bundle of straw large enough to be conspicuous and by night a white light.”
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Other unusual legislative clauses which nonetheless apply to London embody a doable superb for individuals who “fly any kite or play at any game” which causes “annoyance” to others, underneath part 54 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839.
Section 60 of the identical act prohibits the beating of any rug, carpet or mat within the “thoroughfare” – though door mats are allowed earlier than 8am.
Source: information.sky.com”