Footbridge used by 500 people a day to be replaced

The footbridge has been described as a "vital thoroughfare"

A "vital" footbridge used by more than 500 people a day is to be replaced.

The footbridge, which connects Mitton to Northway Lane near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, serves as a vital thoroughfare according to the local borough council, which owns it.

It is used daily by schoolchildren commuting to and from Tewkesbury Comprehensive School and workers going to and from the Northway Lane industrial area.

Councillor Stewart Dove, who presented a report at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, said the bridge has been in need of regular maintenance for a couple of years.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a structural engineer who assessed the condition of the bridge in 2023 found "significant deterioration" in decking plates and balustrade brackets, the report said.

While immediate repairs were carried out, council officers still feel the bridge should be replaced for safety reasons.

"The bridge has been in place for over 50 years, I think we can all say it has served us quite well but it is now in need of replacement," Mr Dove said.

The works would go ahead during school holidays.

Councillor Philip Workman, who supported the proposal, said it was a very popular bridge.

"It is used hugely and it has been subject to holes appearing over the last few years," he said.

"It's really great it is being put back as it was 50 years ago."

The council voted unanimously to approve spending £200,000 to replace the bridge.