Concerns over time taken for broken bridge repairs

11 December 2025

Laura McMullan,in Brewoodand

Richard Price,West Midlands

News image — The road over Brewood Bridge has been closed for two weeks to allow reapirs to take place

BBC A bridge with buildings on the opposite side. There are road closed signs and traffic cones and various pieces of machinery as well as blue temporary fencing on the bridge. There are fixed white rails either side of the bridge and a large grass embankment can be seen on the far side. — The road over Brewood Bridge has been closed for two weeks to allow reapirs to take place

Residents have expressed concern about how long it will take to repair and reopen a bridge leading in and out of their village.

The main access route to the west of Brewood, Staffordshire, has been closed for almost a fortnight due to a large hole appearing in the structure.

The Canal & River Trust, which owns Brewood Bridge over the Shropshire Union Canal, is carrying out a structural survey.

Meanwhile, water firm Severn Trent and the council said it needed to be structurally safe before they can carry out their work on the bridge.

"Something needs to be done pretty quickly," one man said.

"We constantly get heavy vehicles thundering over it," he added. "Maybe there should be a weight restriction on it."

A spokesperson for Canal & River Trust said it was working with Severn Trent and Staffordshire County Council on how best to repair the 190-year-old bridge and reopen it as soon as possible.

"Early assessments indicate that significant repairs are needed, including work on the road surface and to the main water pipe.

"We thank residents for their patience and understanding during this time and will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available."

A hole in the road surface, with white railings and brickwork above the hole. The asphalt has been cracked open, and soil is visible. There are trees in the distance and security fencing in the immediate foreground through which the photo was taken. — Severn Trent says it is investigating two pipe fractures on the bridge

A council spokesperson said they expected an update later this week after bridge inspections had taken place.

"We will then be monitoring progress, including weekly meetings with the Canal & River Trust and Severn Trent Water, and ensuring people and businesses are kept up to date by the project team," they said.

They added that in the meantime they were keeping the flooded Kiddemore Green Road as clear as possible to enable access to home and businesses.

A Severn Trent spokesperson said its staff were investigating two separate pipe fractures on the bridge.

"Our teams were on site within an hour after a report of a burst water pipe on the bridge, which now remains closed for safety reasons.

"We're working closely with bridge owners, the Canal & River Trust, to agree a repair timeline, as they have advised no work can be carried out until a structural report is completed and the bridge is made safe."

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