Bridge funds plea to be made at Labour conference

The bridge in Woodford closed two years ago

The leader of an east London council says he will push the government to fund long overdue repairs of a vital bridge at the Labour conference.

Broadmead Bridge in Woodford, was closed to drivers in July 2023 after "significant structural defects" were identified, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Top councillors have said the town hall cannot afford the £80m rebuild costs so it is expected to remain closed for the foreseeable future.

Conservative councillors have criticised Redbridge Council for failing to find funding and for taking two years to admit that the bridge needed to be replaced.

In a report published this year, council officers said due to other pressures such as building new housing to support older people that "the long-standing financial pressures plus the high prevailing costs of borrowing may well mean a self-funded solution proves unviable".

The town hall is already expecting to go over budget this year by £43m as housing and social care pressures worsen.

Council leader Kam Rai said: "I will be in Liverpool at the Labour Conference from Sunday, making the case for fair funding for Redbridge and for national support to deliver the replacement of Broadmead Road Bridge.

"I will keep fighting for the investment our residents deserve."

Redbridge Council's progress on funding the new bridge has drawn heavy criticism from residents and opposition councillors.

In July, Paul Canal, leader of the Redbridge Conservatives, said: "Broadmead Bridge isn't a luxury – it's a vital lifeline for residents and local businesses.

"It's taken the council two years to admit what we knew all along – the bridge needs replacing – and yet they've still secured no funding.

"That's not just incompetence; it's a complete dereliction of duty."

Councillor Rai previously said he "knew residents were frustrated" and the two-year inspection process had been "painstaking".

In its place, a new single-span bridge will be built over the Central line, with reinforced, soil-wall approaches. The council estimates it will extend the life of the entire structure by 120 years.

Cabinet member Jo Blackman said earlier in the summer the issue had been repeatedly raised with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander by the borough's Labour MPs, Wes Streeting, Calvin Bailey, and former council leader Jas Athwal.

A Department of Transport spokesperson said: "We recognise the difficulties local authorities are facing in maintaining their highways infrastructure.

"This is why the government has increased funding to mend roads by £500m, this year, and announced £1bn for key local highway enhancement projects and a new Structures Fund to repair run-down bridges, decaying flyovers, and worn-out tunnels."