Fears Hempyard Bridge in Ixworth, near Bury St Edmunds, could collapse due to delays in repairs
A historic bridge could be in danger of collapsing, it is feared.
Ben Lord, chair of Ixworth and Ixworth Thorpe Parish Council has called on Suffolk Council to ‘urgently’ rethink repair plans for Hempyard Bridge, Ixworth, which have been postponed until 2024.
He says the bridge, which dates back to the 16th Century, and still used by pedestrians and horse riders, risks collapse.
Suffolk County Council has said the condition of the bridge, which is accessed via Commister Lane, and has curtilage listing as part of the Grade I listed Ixworth Abbey, 'has not changed significantly' in the past few years, and repairs to other bridge and footpath in the county have priority.
Funding and planning consent to repair the bridge was first granted in early 2022 with work originally due to start the same year.
Cllr Lord said: “Despite fierce lobbying by the parish council over this issue, we feel utterly let down by Suffolk County Council’s failure to adequately prioritise the repairs to Hempyard Bridge inspite of express assurances the work would be carried out both last year and this year.
"We have had a plethora of excuses over that time including lack of funding, other bridges being in a greater state of disrepair and therefore more of a priority and now it’s the change of contractor in six months’ time that has joined the list of excuses as to why this has not been done.
"Suffolk County Council’s ‘frequent’ inspections suggest there is no significant change to the bridge’s condition yet it can be clearly seen how chunks of this bridge are eroding into the river.
"An owner of a listed building would not be able to get away with such complacency and this latest delay will seriously risk Hempyard Bridge avoidably collapsing into the River Blackborne resulting in the closure of the only bridleway in our village that is fundamental to our circular footpath network”
“We insist that Suffolk County Council urgently reviews its position as it appears the promised funding allocated to Hempyard Bridge is now being diverted elsewhere."
Costs of repairing the bridge are understood to have increased from around £100,000 in 2015, when the parish council first started calling for action, to £250,000 by 2021. A wooden temporary fix was installed five years ago.
A spokesman for Suffolk County Council, confirmed repair work has been postponed until 2024.
He said: “The repair works at Hempyard bridge were programmed to completed in Summer 2023.
"Whilst the bridge is in poor condition, it remains open, with a temporary structure in place over the top of it to keep the public away from the areas of most concern.
"The bridge is also subject to monthly safety inspections to monitor any significant change in condition. The bridge continues to slowly deteriorate, however there has been no significant change in condition over the past few years.
"Recent estimating, based on the design drawings that have already been prepared, has indicated that the repair works are expected to take 12 weeks to complete with a cost of circa £250,000.
“Hempyard bridge is one of 200 larger bridges that carry the Public Rights of Way network throughout the county.
At three other locations in the county footbridges have recently had to be closed due to concerns regarding their safety.
"These closures are causing significant disruption and inconvenience to the public. There is a finite budget and resources available for addressing the works required to replace and maintain Public Rights of Way bridges, and whilst some additional funding has been reallocated for 2023/24 to increase the funding available to deal with these issues, it’s still not possible to address all the bridges that need replacement and maintenance in the coming year.
“Unfortunately, due to a reprioritisation of other work related to bridge repairs and footpath closures in the county and a change in primary highways contractor in October 2023, the works at Hempyard are now scheduled for summer 2024.”
