New bridge will 'solve decades-long problem'

A new bridge, costing about £440,000, will make a town centre "safer for pedestrians and cyclists and solve a "decades-long problem", council chiefs say.

Under the plans, a footbridge will be built in the centre of Bradford-on-Avon to offer an alternative route to Town Bridge, where pedestrians have reported being scraped by lorries and hit by wing mirrors.

Wiltshire Council has now secured about £50,000 for the bridge's design and business case.

The town's mayor Jack Vittles said the new route could solve a "decades-long problem", adding if you are using a pushchair or using a wheelchair, the current bridge is "borderline unusable".

Councillor Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways, said: "We know that crossing the river can be particularly challenging at busy times, and concerns have been raised locally about pedestrian safety on the Town Bridge, especially for those walking close to traffic.

"A new pedestrian and cycling bridge would provide a much safer alternative route, helping people to avoid traffic, encouraging more active travel and improving everyday journeys around the town," he added.

Wiltshire Council said the bridge will connect Bridge Street on the south side to Bridge Yard on the north.

A draft four-year plan has been submitted by the council to Active Travel England (ATE), which includes allocating more than £440,000 for the bridge until 2030.

The initial £50,000, which has been approved by ATE, could mean the design is submitted within the next year.

Vittles said the current bridge "puts people off" going into the town centre.

"We've consulted on this for a number of years...and there's a real need and a desire for this," he added.

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