Work to begin on Bedser Bridge over Basingstoke Canal

The Bedser Bridge will link the town centre and the new Living Planet Centre

Building work is due to begin on a new pedestrian bridge over the Basingstoke Canal in Surrey.

The existing bridge in Woking town centre and a section of the canal towpath will be closed from 23 April to allow construction to start.

The new bridge is to be called Bedser Bridge in recognition of Surrey and England cricketing heroes Eric and Sir Alec Bedser from Horsell, in Woking.

Woking Borough Council said the old bridge had reached the end of its life.

'Minimise disruption'

The Lightbox museum and gallery will be open as normal during construction but diversions will be in place for pedestrians and cyclists until early 2013.

"We are keen to minimise disruption for both residents and visitors and would like to apologise for any inconvenience as a result of these works," said the council's deputy chief executive Douglas Spinks.

The new bridge will give access to and from Woking town centre, Brewery Road car park and the new Living Planet Centre being built for WWF-UK alongside the canal.

The conservation charity has been at its current HQ, Panda House in Godalming, for more than 20 years.

Planning consent for its new building was granted in February 2011.