Businesses feel 'hung out to dry' over bridge closure

Kenny Bradley has short black and grey hair with dark brown and grey facial hair. He is wearing a white shirt and has a dark blue zip-up body warmer on with the shops logo on it. Behind him is the front door to his shop which has large glass panes and has a wood effect.

Kenny Bradley owns a number of stores, including one in Kilrea

Holly Fleck
BBC News NI

Businesses in a County Londonderry village "feel like they've been hung out to dry" by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) as no reopening date has been set for a vital bridge over the River Bann.

The bridge was closed on 20 September after extensive cracking was discovered in a retaining wall creating "an unacceptable risk to public safety", the DfI said.

Kenny Bradley, who owns a shop and fuel station in Kilrea, said there has been a 30% drop in food sales and a 50% decrease in food-to-go sales since the closure.

A department spokesperson said: "We are working hard and at pace to get the bridge re-opened safely and as soon as possible."

Kilrea is on the western bank of the River Bann and is connected to County Antrim by this single-lane bridge.

Mr Bradley said that due to the closure they are "essentially cut off from County Antrim".

"The businesses feel like they've been hung out to dry.

"It's a real disaster of a situation."

Declan has short black hair and facial hair, a beard and moustache. He is standing in front of a shop window, as he wears a black zip-up fleece and top.Frances Quinn

Declan McAtamney manages several butcher shops, including the branch in Kilrea

Declan McAtamney, who manages a butcher's shop in Kilrea, said sales are down by 20% overall.

He explained that many of their customers come from Rasharkin and Dunloy and are unable to cross the bridge.

Meanwhile, some staff now face an extra hour added to their daily commute, which is a "major inconvenience".

He believes if Kilrea was "a bigger town", the bridge "would have been sorted out a lot sooner".

A big stone bridge across a river with large arches. There is orange barriers on the bridge.

Originally constructed in 1783, the bridge is a listed structure

Mark McIntyre, who is the owner of a restaurant in the village, said sales have been down between 50 and 60%.

He explained that one of his employees has an additional 25 miles added on to her journey each day, and that customers are "a bit reluctant to do that journey".

"I've got 16 full-time staff and another 16 casual staff," he said.

"At the moment I just have to reduce the hours, I don't want to lay anybody off

"But the footfall's not there and there's not a lot I can do."

'We don't know what's happening'

Mr Bradley said the "biggest problem we're having here is we don't know what's happening".

He said there's been no update on the timeline or support for businesses.

Mr McIntyre said he would "like to see if there's any type of relief or compensation".

Mr McAtamney added that "all the communication we had was very sudden", which meant there "wasn't really much time to plan".

A man and women standing side-by-side on steps leading up to the door of a stone building. He is bald and is wearing a black coat, white shirt and black shoes. She has long brown hair and is wearing a white top, black jeans, brown boots and a light brown jacket.Mark McIntyre

Mark McIntyre, pictured alongside his wife Agnieska, says sales are down at their restaurant

The bridge was originally constructed in 1783 and is a listed structure.

It has been closed previously for works, which Mr Bradley describes as a "sticking plaster job".

"DFI need to take this seriously and look at building a new bridge and modern bridge to cope with today's traffic," Mr Bradley said.

Mr McIntyre said the bridge is not fit for purpose anymore and that the "cracks have been there for years, and then eventually they've just got worse".

He said he welcomes a temporary solution but has concerns over future closures if the problem is not resolved.

Mr McAtamney also believes that the "bridge has been neglected" and the department needs "to get the problem sorted".

A bridge with a red 'road closed' sign in front of large concrete blocks and red traffic cones. The traffic lights for the bridge have turned red.

The bridge connects County Antrim and County Londonderry

Looking ahead to Christmas, Mr Bradley said "there's an awful lot of concern and worry at the minute", with regards to stock and staffing.

"We have a lot of stock ordered in for Christmas and the concern is that the bridge is not going to be opened and we're not going get that stock sold."

He said there is uncertainty over Christmas bookings, as it is unclear whether customers will be willing to arrange taxis or lifts through the diversions to reach his venue.

As a butcher, Mr McAtamney said Christmas is their "busiest time of year".

The department said investigatory works have been completed and "decisions to close roads are not taken lightly".

"We anticipate receiving proposals, including a timeline for the works, within the next few days."

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