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Fears over future of storm-damaged bridge

BBC Councillor Jess Bailey standing in front of the closed footbridge, which has high metal fencing at its entrance to prevent people crossingBBC
Jess Bailey said she was concerned the footbridge, closed since last December, might have a "total collapse"

A bridge that connects two sides of a town in Devon remains closed nine months after it was damaged in storms in December 2023.

People in Ottery St Mary said they were concerned for the safety of hundreds of schoolchildren who used to use Coleridge Bridge and now have to walk a far longer route on a busy road, with some journey times quadrupling.

One local councillor said she feared the entire bridge could collapse if work was not carried out ahead of any more storms in the coming winter.

Devon County Council and the Environment Agency said they were working together to obtain necessary permission for the "critical" work.

Devon County Council A view across the bridge, showing a fallen tree that has damaged the bridge's handrailsDevon County Council
The bridge was damaged by a fallen tree in the storms of December 2023

Jess Bailey, Independent councillor for Otter Valley on Devon County Council, said: "Ultimately, during the winter we might see further deterioration and erosion which could cause the total collapse of the bridge into the river.

"It's an absolutely vital pedestrian link between the King's School and residents to get to the main centre of Ottery St Mary, and it was used by hundreds of people on a daily basis."

Ms Bailey said the bridge, which was built in 2011, was supported by a central pier which had suffered serious erosion.

"This is an absolutely crucial piece of infrastructure for the community," she said.

Ottery resident Caz Meech wearing a black lace top and grey jacket in the foreground with the background of the River Otter out of focus
Caz Meech can see the damaged bridge from her back garden overlooking the River Otter

Caz Meech's back garden overlooks the River Otter and her children were regular users of the footbridge.

She said her biggest concerns were around safety.

She said: "Not only do the children now have to go around the main road, where they are at risk of the traffic, but also quite regularly you get children scaling the fence and getting onto the bridge.

"Those fences are not going to stop determined teenagers. Do we need a tragedy to happen for anybody to actually act?"

Other residents in Ottery St Mary said it had turned a five-minute walk into town into a 20-minute walk, and they were concerned about elderly people or people with mobility issues being cut off from the main town centre.

Looking out over greenery towards the Otter River and Coleridge Bridge in the distance
The bridge crosses the Otter River and joins up two sides of Ottery St Mary

Devon County Council said "critical work" was needed "first to strengthen and protect the foundations on which the bridge sits".

The council said it was in discussion with the Environment Agency about the necessary permissions and it hoped to be able to start the work before the end of September.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said it was working closely with the council on granting permissions for both temporary work this year and for permanent repairs in the longer term.

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