Listed 1930s lifting repair bridge works approved

The bridge is frequently opened on a summer and winter timetable to allow boats in and out of the inner harbour

A town's lifting bridge is to be repaired and repainted.

Dorset Council's area planning committee have approved the listed building consent for Weymouth Town Bridge, which spans the River Wey and inner harbour at the end of St Thomas Street.

The council said its parapet panels, posts and trough areas were in need of refurbishment.

There is no schedule for when the work might start and the BBC has approached the local authority for a confirmation on whether the bridge will be closed during the works.

The twin leaf steel structure, built in 1930, is frequently opened on a summer and winter timetable to allow boats in and out of the inner harbour.

Parts of some panels are said to be corroded in limited areas, making it better to take the worst affected panels off, repair them and then re-fit them.

The planning committee heard that a trial panel had already been taken away and repaired to see if the technique was better than trying to carry out the work in situ.

Councillors were told that because of the damage some sections might not be replaced with the original materials where they had lost their structural integrity.

A technical report on the proposals said that where there was heavy corrosion and section loss, "new elements would be created 'like for like'".

The report continues: "It is considered that the extent of loss would be relatively minor and replacements would match the existing in material, design and colour.

"The only deviation from the existing is to the panel ends to each section which would need to be slightly modified for re-fitting purposes."