Blackwater Valley Path bridge funding dispute

A plea for cash to replace a rotting footbridge at a popular walking spot has been dismissed by a town council.

Bracknell Forest Council rangers said £60,000 was needed to replace a bridge, which the authority owns, on Blackwater Valley Path.

As the path crosses land owned by Sandhurst Town Council, rangers asked the authority to contribute.

However, Sandhurst Council declined, saying there was "no indication" of how much it might have to pay.

The bridge over the River Blackwater has been closed since April last year, after inspectors decided it was unsuitable to cross over.

The land on the Sandhurst side is owned by Bracknell Forest Council, while the land on the other side is in Hampshire.

Rangers said Bracknell Forest Council would pay some cash towards the replacement.

"Given that the bridge forms part of the Blackwater Valley Path between Sandhurst and Blackwater I was hoping Sandhurst Town Council might be in a position to support the project with some match funding," one ranger said.

"This would enable us to confidently organise the bridge replacement for the summer of 2024."

Councillors on Sandhurst Town's leisure committee unanimously declined the request.

Committee chair, Councillor Jean Bettison, said: "The bridge is partly in Hampshire and partly in Bracknell Forest, but not on Sandhurst Town Council land.

"As the request gave no indication of the total cost nor what contribution might be needed, we made the decision to decline the request based on the information available to us."

Stephen Chown, head of natural estates for Bracknell Forest Council, said he was "confident" that funding to replace the bridge would be found.

He added that details could not be confirmed until after Bracknell Forest Council decided its budget in February.

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