Park bridge still closed as repair costs evaluated

The Cherry Tree Walk bridge was closed in the summer

A footbridge in a popular city park continues to be closed while a repair plan is drawn up.

The wooden bridge at Cherry Tree Walk, in Jesmond Dene, Newcastle, has been shut since the start of August as a precaution after signs of wear and tear were spotted.

Newcastle City Council said it was evaluating the scope and cost of the works and could not confirm when the crossing would reopen.

Alternative routes to the park were available and signposted from Jesmond Dene Road, it added.

A full structural assessment was carried out on the bridge after it became clear it had deteriorated and access was then blocked as a "precaution", the authority said.

"The bridge had showed no indication of structural issues in recent years, but the closure was deemed necessary following the latest assessment," a spokesperson added.

The council previously said the closure meant there was no access across the Ouseburn river for a section of the dene to the west of Pets' Corner.

Visitors have been advised to use either the Banqueting Hall Bridge to the north or Armstrong Bridge to the south while the restrictions remain in force.

Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.