Peterborough footbridges to close over safety concerns

Cuckoo's Hollow is a reserve in Peterborough

Three footbridges are being closed for the "foreseeable future" because their dilapidated condition "poses too great a risk to public safety".

Peterborough City Council said the bridges at the Cuckoo's Hollow reserve, between Werrington and Gunthorpe, were already earmarked for replacement in the 2024-25 financial year.

However, it said "the deterioration of the structures has been much quicker than anticipated".

The bridges will be closed from Monday.

They are close to Baron Court, Lakeside and Welbourne and the council apologised, saying it understood the routes were "key... for residents that travel by bike and on foot".

"However, it would be wrong not to follow the expert advice we have received to remove any public health and safety risk," a spokesman said.

The council said the bridges would be reopened "as soon as possible", but would remain closed "until the structures are replaced".