News / Clifton Down
Government to decide fate of proposed new Clifton bridge
A controversial bridge linking two parts of Clifton Down could be built at last.
The classic stone arch bridge for pedestrians and cyclists would cross Bridge Valley Road near the junction with Ladies Mile.
Plans for the 80-metre structure proved popular when they were first submitted two years ago but have faced a number of official hurdles since then.
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Now its fate is in the hands of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which will decide whether the structure can be built on common land.
Dr Tomor has written to the environment secretary, Michael Gove, seeking permission to construct the bridge
Bristol engineer Adrienn Tomor, a specialist in stone bridges, worked on the design with Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge, a community organisation involved in preserving the area.
The limestone bridge would be about 80 metres long, including its access ramps, and five metres wide. A viewing area would be included on the south side.
New paths would link the bridge with existing roads as cycling is prohibited on The Downs and The Promenade.
The whole scheme would require the removal of 38 trees and it is this element, as well as its location in The Downs Conservation Area, that has sparked controversy.
Some 14 objections were lodged when the plans were first submitted to Bristol City Council in March 2016, although another 148 people voiced their support.
Council officers recommended the proposal for refusal “on the grounds of the landscape and conservation area impact”, but a planning committee permitted it in July 2016 on the proviso that a legal agreement securing £85,000 for compensatory tree planting could be reached.
However, the committee changed their minds and refused the scheme six months later when it transpired the agreement could not be reached.
The bridge woul cross Bridge Valley Road near the junction with Ladies Mile.
Dr Tomor appealed their decision, and it was overturned by a planning inspector in October 2017.
Now the senior lecturer in civil engineering at UWE Bristol has written to the environment secretary, Michael Gove, seeking permission to construct the bridge.
The Commons Act 2016 requires permission from the environment secretary before any structure is built on common land.
Tomor wrote her letter on February 26 and said she is not expecting a reply for three to six months. The planning inspectorate will make the decision on behalf of Defra.
Tomor said: “Bridges are something that Bristol does well.
“The proposed bridge over Bridge Valley Road will be made of stone, consistent with the great houses that grace Clifton and our city.
“By connecting the two parts of the Downs at a dangerous section of Bridge Valley Road, the bridge will make crossing safer for pedestrians and cyclists and add to the aesthetic of the area.
“The bridge has already been approved through one planning process – the next stage will review that evidence before further permissions can be granted.”
Tomor said stone bridges can last well over a thousand years, so the proposed bridge could outlast the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
“Funding will come from a variety of organisations and individuals who see its advantages,” she said.
Amanda Cameron is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
Read more: Plans for cafe to replace public toilets on the Downs
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