Anger over debris build-up at historic bridge

Campaigners have complained about the state of a 15th Century bridge in Worcestershire - saying it is suffering more damage due to a huge build-up of debris.

Driftwood has piled up at Powick Old Bridge, which suffered a partial collapse two years ago and is still awaiting repairs.

Liz Demaison, from Friends of Powick Old Bridge, said: "This will keep happening until something is done to stop it - it's incomprehensible and very frustrating."

Worcestershire County Council said it understood the concerns and would remove the debris when the river levels dropped to a safe point.

There is a multimillion-pound plan in place to repair the bridge, which suffered a partial collapse in January 2024, although the work will not start until next year.

The campaigners say the Grade I listed structure, which played a key role in the start and end of the English civil war, is now in a worse state due to the debris build-up.

Demaison added: "The enormous tree trunks are butting against the bridge and the debris is impeding the flow of the water.

"That increases the turbulence under the water, we know this kind of thing will damage the structure of the bridge.

"The debris has been a problem for quite a number of years - it's a longstanding issue and this problem isn't going to go away."

Dee Bruce, a fellow campaigner, added: "It's causing real problems and it'll continue to cause problems unless something is done about it.

"This is a mass body of weight that's pushing against this bridge - it's clear for everyone to see."

The county council said the high river levels meant it must wait to clear the debris away.

A spokesman said: "We understand residents' concerns about this historic bridge.

"Our assessments show the debris is floating on the river's surface, water is flowing freely through the arches, and it is not putting pressure on the structure.

"Removing it safely requires a very large crane on a narrow riverbank, and the contractor will not deploy heavy equipment until conditions are safe.

"Recent weather has kept river levels high, but our team is monitoring the situation closely and the debris will be removed as soon as it is physically safe to do so."

The council wants to make the site more of a tourist attraction, once the bridge is fully reopened in 2028.

It is a Scheduled Monument, making it a site of national importance.

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.