Outrage in stunning UK village over plans to demolish 100-year-old bridge | UK | News | EUROtoday

Villagers within the fairly Hampshire village of Brockenhurst are up in arms over plans to demolish a 100-year-old footbridge that’s utilized by round 100 folks every day. The inhabitants of the prosperous New Forest hamlet, the place home costs common £1 million, have hit out at Forestry England after the general public physique proposed eradicating a concrete bridge close to Martin’s Road after it was judged to require £45,000 in repairs. Demolishing the construction would drive locals and vacationers onto a busy stretch of highway within the nationwide park, opponents to the proposal stated, making it an “extremely hazardous” prospect and “an accident waiting to happen”.

Chris and Bernadette Daniels are amongst Brockenhurst’s 3,500-odd residents who had been in opposition to the demolition plans after they had been first put ahead 4 years in the past – and stay against them now. The slim construction is an important crossing level to the favored strolling space of Black Knowl, they stated, rubbishing Forestry England’s claims that it will value an excessive amount of too restore.

“The bridge is used daily throughout the year by local people and visitors to the area, including walkers, dog walkers and runners,” they informed the Daily Echo.

“Records show a crossing has existed at this location for 100 years.”

The couple stated the choice path to Black Knowl was through close by Meerut Road and a bend that’s “already extremely hazardous due to the amount of traffic and the excessive speed of vehicles”.

“The cost of work required to meet safety requirements is trivial compared to the implications of pedestrians having to use Meerut Road at such a dangerous location,” they added.

Hannah and Robin Martin, who reside close to the footbridge on Martin’s Road, additionally warned that it was “an accident waiting to happen”, particularly since round 100 folks crossed over it every day.

However, Forestry England insisted that the construction is “not fit for purpose and doesn’t meet current safety standards for people or livestock”.

“The bridge has been inspected and maintained over the years by Hampshire County Council and we’re actively talking to them about its future,” a spokesperson stated. “Rebuilding the bridge to a suitable standard would cost around £45,000, which is unsustainable.”

A council spokesperson added: “Martin’s Road footbridge is situated within Forestry England land and not in a recorded Hampshire County Council public right of way. Decisions regarding the footbridge rest with Forestry England.”