Call for bridge to be reopened at nature park near Woodley

The crossing, at the Loddon Countryside Amenities Area in Woodley, has been out of use for transport for nearly a decade after it was judged to be structurally unsafe.

Now Stephen Browning, who lives near Woodley, has written to Wokingham Borough Council calling for the bridge to be restored and reopened. It was closed off during the pandemic which means pedestrians were unable to use it.

Mr Browning said the crossing helps connect the area and said it was strong enough to carry lorries at one stage. He said: “The deck plates of the bridge are indeed rusted but the structure otherwise appears intact and is very strong, having been designed to carry HGVs.

“It was finally shut off at the start of the pandemic. Can you please consider its repair and reopened for pedestrian and cycle traffic, to provide a safer route than Sandford Lane?”

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Mr Browning suggested installing new cross beams to allow pedestrians and cyclists use the bridge.

Mr Browning’s question was put to councillors at the full council meeting in Wokingham on Thursday, May 18, but the council said it was down to the landlord to restore it.

The new bridges over the old branch of the River Loddon at the Loddon Countryside Amenities Area. Credit: Google Earth

In a written response, Councillor Paul Fishwick (Liberal Democrats, Winnersh), responsible for travel and highways, said: “We agree that this would be a very good link for pedestrians, but unfortunately the council does not have the ability to repair and reopen the bridge.

“The bridge is not owned by the council but instead is owned by the landowners of each side of the banks of the Loddon; the agreement of each landowner is required to allow the council to re-open the path.

“This bridge is the original ‘bailey’ bridge built around the 1960s to facilitate gravel extraction on the site.

“The Council commissioned a safety inspection of the bridge in July 2021 to determine whether it was safe for use.

“The current condition of the bridge is such that it cannot be safely opened in its present state, and we have needed to close the bridge to prevent people trying to access across it and putting themselves in danger.

“We have explored options for the repair or replacement of the bridge, and the reopening of the path link to the eastern side with the landowners but unfortunately permission for public access across the bridge was refused by the landowner on the eastern side.

“The landowners have also made it clear that they intend to remove the bridge.”

The nature reserve, called the Loddon Countryside Amenities Area is made up of woodland and fields bound by the River Loddon.

The area is part of Wokingham footpath 30, which runs from Sandford Lane to Whistley Mill Lane in Hurst.