Bradford-on-Avon consultation on river crossing safety

A consultation is being launched on how to improve crossing the river in Bradford on Avon

The public is being asked for suggestions on how to make a river crossing safer.

Town Bridge, a listed medieval bridge in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, is used by vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists but has a narrow pavement.

The town council and sustainable travel organisation Sustrans are starting a consultation.

Councillor Tim Trimble said there are "quite a lot of accidents" on the bridge.

Mr Trimble - also chair of Bradford-on-Avon Town Council's sustainable travel committee - said between 15,000 and 20,000 vehicles use the bridge a day.

He said: "The bridge is narrow. The pavements are narrow. There's a huge number of cars, vans and lorries as well using it.

"People using mobility scooters don't cross the bridge, because they have to force other people into the road"

The historic bridge is very narrow, with vehicles and people on foot having to get close

Sarah Leeming, Sustrans Director for the South of England, said she has cycled across the bridge herself and described it as "a squeeze."

She explained that the consultation will be "an initial data-gathering exercise" and would not yet involve the actual design of any crossing.

"It's going to help build the first stage for a robust business case for the council to hopefully secure government funding for the crossing" she said.

Sustrans said it is "very keen to collect ideas and suggestions."

Mr Trimble said the council has already been given some ideas, such as attaching a pedestrian walkway to either side of the bridge - which he said was a "possibility".

The town council says people can speak to them about the Safer Bradford-on-Avon Crossing next week on 7 December at the town market between 08:00 GMT and 13:00 GMT or at St Margaret's Hall from 17:00 GMT to 19:00 GMT.

People will also be able to comment online.

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