Bridge repair costs rise as hundreds in poor state

Hundreds of bridges in Cumbria are in a poor or very poor condition, according to local councils (stock picture)

The cost of repairing council-maintained bridges in Cumbria is expected to exceed £6m this financial year, compared to less than £4m in each of the two previous years.

Karl Melville, assistant director for highways and transport at Cumberland Council, said inflation and the changing climate were factors.

He said the Labour-led council was investing more money because hundreds of bridges were in poor condition.

Liberal Democrat-led Westmorland and Furness Council said its figure for the current financial year was still a forecast and could turn out to be lower, as it had in previous years.

In Freedom of Information data, Cumberland said it expected to spend £4.2m in 2025-26, while Westmorland and Furness had a forecast spend of £1.8m.

Cumberland Council said 326 of its bridges were in poor condition, while a further 38 were very poor - adding up to nearly half of the bridges it maintains.

Only 46 of Westmorland and Furness Council's bridges were rated poor.

In 2024, there were fears Buckbarrow Bridge would collapse under the weight of vehicles

Mr Melville said the climate was a factor in the state of many bridges.

"Bridges are sitting in water for longer, because of the long, wet spells that we have," he said.

He said the cost of materials and labour had risen and that the increase in budget was "in recognition of the feedback we've had from our inspections".

Westmorland and Furness Council also said costs had risen, but added the budget for the current year was just a prediction and represented the work the council "aspired" to do.

A spokesperson said: "This figure may change due to the complex nature of many of the projects. Just as in previous years, the final figure may end up being lower."