999 services have ‘plans in place’ during bridge closure
Emergency services across Bath and North East Somerset have said the closure of Cleveland Bridge should not affect their response time.
The bridge, one of the main routes into the city, closed for repair works on Monday until August 23 and will shut again from September 13 to September 16.
Delicate repair work is being undertaken on the Grade Ii*-listed bridge after contractors discovered more damage than expected during surveys.
Avon and Somerset Police, South Western Ambulance Service and Avon Fire and Rescue Service have each said they have plans in place to mitigate any impact caused by the closure.
Pedestrians and cyclists can use the bridge but cyclists will need to dismount.
The work on the structure, which carries 17,000 vehicles a day, is needed to safeguard its future.
Every repair has been assessed to decide how the works will be carried out. These include structural repairs that require extreme care and so a limited number can be completed at any one time.
A police spokesperson said: “We do not anticipate there will be any impact on response times as the closure will be factored into incident allocation and deployments.”
Avon Fire and Rescue confirmed that it will take alternative routes to each emergency as “efficiently” as possible.
It said: “For the duration of the repairs on Cleveland Bridge, where possible, the bridge will remain accessible for all emergency service vehicles, including our fire engines.
“There are times when the bridge must be closed to all traffic, to ensure the vital repair works can take place. In this situation our firefighters will take alternative routes to reach those in an emergency as effectively and efficiently as possible.
“We’d like to reassure local residents that when our access to the bridge may be impacted, plans are in place to ensure we can respond to emergencies. We are dedicated to ensuring our response remains effective to keep local residents safe.”
South Western Ambulance Service said that it does not foresee the closure affecting its response time despite it being close to its station in the area as it often has ambulances stationed around the city.
A spokesperson said: “We are aware of the upcoming temporary closure of Cleveland Bridge in Bath for structural repairs, and do not anticipate it will have a significant impact on our service to patients in the area.
“Although the bridge is in close proximity to our ambulance station at Bath, our local crews often respond to emergencies from strategically located standby points across the city rather than the station itself.
“We deal with changes to transport routes every day, caused by planned activity and road traffic incidents. We are normally notified about planning applications through the consultation process from the relevant authority, which allows us to plan alternative routes accordingly.
“During this ongoing period of very high demand on our service, we continue to work incredibly hard be there for those people in Bath and across the South West who need us most.
“Please only call 999 in a genuine, life-threatening emergency, and do not call back for an arrival time. For other medical concerns, people should contact NHS 111 for advice and support.”