Households feel 'fobbed off' over bridge repairs

Claims have been made that residents are being "fobbed off" by their county council over the lack of repairs to a popular bridge.

The Black Bridge over the River Wye links Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire with Welsh Bicknor, in Herefordshire.

However, the ongoing closure of the former railway viaduct, also known as Stowfield Bridge, has frustrated residents.

Green Party councillor Sid Phelps, who represents Lydbrook on Forest of Dean District Council and has campaigned for repairs for years, said the news of further "indeterminate delays" is "deeply disappointing" for local people. The county council has been approached for comment.

"I'm starting to get the feeling that we're all being fobbed off again," Phelps added.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, on Friday, residents gathered together to call on Gloucestershire County Council to find a long‑term solution that would allow the bridge to remain open permanently.

The crossing is a key footbridge on the 136‑mile Wye Valley Walk which, when open, is used by more than 20,000 walkers a year.

But the bridge has faced closures over the last 10 years, with the latest closure due to health and safety concerns.

Reform UK councillor Piers Camp, who represents the Drybrook and Lydbrook division, said at the meeting that the council had been expected to fix and reopen the bridge by now.

He said the council told him they could no longer do so because the required works were more extensive than they thought.

"It's more damage than they thought, and it's going to cost more than they thought," he said.

"They've taken it back to the drawing board and are currently compiling a report for the cabinet."

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.