£1m repair plans for Kingsweston Iron Bridge finally move forward

Plans to fix a key bridge linking Kings Weston Estate with Blaise Castle are finally moving forward six and a half years after it was closed.

The historic footbridge has been out of action since a lorry driver crashed into it in 2015, leaving people with no safe way to cross the busy road beneath.

Marvin Rees announced in February that Bristol City Council would fund the £1m repairs needed to fix Kingsweston Iron Bridge in a budget u-turn following pressure from campaigners and Conservative councillors.

The mayor has now announced the council has applied for planning permission to carry out the work and to raise the bridge by over a metre in a bid to prevent large vehicles from hitting it again in the future.

It is currently supported by scaffolding, which itself has been struck by vehicles twice since the closure in November 2015.

Local campaigners have been calling for the bridge be repaired for years. They came up against issues when the bridge’s grade two listing led to heritage concerns raised by Historic England, who in 2019 claimed there were “clear adverse impacts on the significance of the bridge and its context”.

Joanna (who did not give her last name) lives less than 100 metres from the bridge and has welcomed the news it is to be repaired.

Speaking to Bristol24/7 on Thursday, she said she was annoyed it has taken so long to get it fixed but relieved that it is finally going to be done.

“Now I’d like to see the time scale that they’ll actually do it in,” said Joanna.

“It’s very important for the school children because, at the moment, they have to cross a very busy road which is highly dangerous. Now they will be safer by crossing the bridge.

Joanna added: “I would have to question raising the bridge and putting in steps rather than a ramp because for a lot of old people with mobility issues the steps are going to be a problem.”

Some have raised concerns that plans to fix Kingsweston Iron Bridge don’t include provision to make it accessible for wheelchair users and others with limited mobility – photo: Kate Bowie

Others have also raised concerns about the fact that previous suggestions to include accessible wheelchair ramps have not been included in the plans.

Council documents submitted to the planning portal state ramps were considered but that “due to the fall in ground levels away from the bridge landings, significant ramp structures, 20m in length at a gradient of 1:12 would be required to facilitate this”.

The papers continue: “These long ramps, with their associated guard rails, would add very substantial costs to the works, whilst having a significant adverse visual and physical impact on the adjacent listed terrace wall.”

A commenter on the ‘Save the Iron Bridge’ Facebook page said: “Sad that with steps instead of ramp planned the bridge won’t be accessible.”

Other commenters welcomed the news that the bridge is finally set to be fixed.

Writing to the council’s planning department, one commenter said; “I fully support the reconstruction of the bridge. It will improve significantly the safety for people walking in the area and wishing to go from Blaise into Kings Weston.”

Main photo: Kate Bowie

Read More: Mayor’s revised budget includes plans to fix Kingsweston Iron Bridge 

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