Rising costs halt council work on third footbridge

Just two out of three unsafe bridges at a nature reserve will be replaced due to a limited council budget.

In January last year, Peterborough City Council closed three footbridges at Cuckoo's Hollow in Werrington after concerns they were "at risk of collapse".

The two structures, at Baron Court and Lakeside, are expected to be replaced this month and reopened in May.

The city council said it would continue to look at options to replace the third bridge at Welbourne, which has been removed, but not yet replaced, due to rising costs.

A review noted that three bridges, which are inspected every two years, had deteriorated much quicker than anticipated and posed a risk to public safety.

Restoration works to the structures were initially expected to cost about £1.2m.

Peterborough City Council's cabinet member for environment and transport, Angus Ellis, said the authority prioritised replacing the bridges at Baron Court and Lakeside so there was access at both north and south of Cuckoos Hollow.

"I am pleased that this work to replace the bridges is being done, it is much needed by residents and visitors to the natural habitat of Cuckoos Hollow," he said.

"However, as the project has progressed, it has unfortunately become evident that the budgets originally allocated for the works are not enough to cover replacing all three bridges right now.

"We will continue to explore other funding options with a view to installing a third bridge in future and other potential schemes for this area."

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