Bridge love locks to be removed over weight concerns

Severn Trent said the locks were causing some damage to the bridge, which goes over the River Trent in Nottingham

Love locks attached to a footbridge over the River Trent in Nottingham are being removed over concerns about its structural integrity.

Over many years, Wilford Suspension Bridge - which connects The Meadows and West Bridgford - has been covered in commemorative padlocks.

But Severn Trent has said the locks now need to be removed to help "protect the bridge's structure".

A spokesperson for the water supplier told BBC Radio Nottingham work to the bridge, which includes removing any remaining locks, would begin on 6 October.

It means people have eight weeks to remove their locks, if they wish.

In a public notice recently attached to the bridge, Severn Trent said the weight of the locks was "affecting the structural integrity of the bridge" and "causing some damage".

Severn Trent placed notices on the bridge informing people the locks were set to be removed

In 2024, across the border in Derbyshire, Richard Young backed a local campaign group to save love locks being removed from a bridge in Bakewell.

He said every lock had a memory, and added: "We fought the council not to melt them down."

The bridge was first opened in 1906

Derbyshire County Council had planned to remove the locks and recycle them so maintenance work could be carried out.

But after outcry over the plan, the authority eventually agreed to hand them over to the campaign group.

"We removed them and put them back in order at Thornbridge Hall [a nearby stately home]," Mr Young added.

He suggested a similar movement should start in Nottingham.

However, Severn Trent said any locks left after eight weeks would be "well looked after", with plans to "create something special" with them.

'Well looked after'

A spokesperson for the water company said: "This is an iconic local landmark, and we need to make sure the bridge stays safe and strong for everyone.

"We know the lovelocks on Wilford Suspension Bridge mean a lot to many, so we're giving people lots of notice to come and safely collect their lock during the next eight weeks.

"After this we'll carefully remove them to help protect the bridge's structure now and in the future.

"Everyone can be rest assured the locks that are removed will be well looked after, and we're in the early stages of talking with a local business to create something special to honour their lovely meaning.

"More will be revealed on this in due course, and we'd like to thank everyone for their understanding."