Town’s decaying grade II listed bridge in need of restoration

A county councillor is campaigning for the restoration of a grade II listed bridge in Bury St Edmunds which has been left to decay for years.

Cllr Trevor Beckwith said he originally contacted Suffolk County Council in January to let it know about the bridge’s bad state of repair after the Eastgate Ward Community Association got in contact with him. But after an inspection, engineers just cemented over the cracks - even using the wrong colour cement.

Mr Beckwith said it would be cheaper to fix it now than wait for it to get worse.

“There is an air of decay about the bridge”, he said.

“Residents around here are not pleased about it.

“There’s all sorts of things wrong with it, loose bricks on the pillars, loose railings.

“The whole problem with the local government set up is we are leaving all the roads and then wondering why we are getting potholes.

“This bridge is similar, it is cheaper in the long run to do the job properly.

“I think it is often forgotten because it doesn’t look like a bridge when you are driving over it.”

Bury in Bloom Coordinator Melanie Lesser, who has joined the campaign, said the bridge was an important gateway to the town.

“We want to encourage people into the town and if it looks smart then people respect it.

“I spotted it was looking awful and that Trevor and I were on the same page but we have not been able to get anywhere with it.”

A County Council spokesman said: “An inspection has taken place last week looking at the bridge.

“This inspection will now report back to the council.

“As soon as the report is back that will form the basis of our work repairing the bridge.

“Early this year we repaired damage to the wrought iron guard rails and some minor repointing repairs as well as clearing the area.”