Councils should work together over bridge

ADRIAN Phillips asked why the footpath over Pilley Bridge Nature Reserve has been closed for five years (Echo letters, October 22).

I share his frustration that this well used footpath connecting Leckhampton to Charlton Kings has been left closed for so long.

Ironically, both Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) and Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) have declared a climate emergency, with aims to create more sustainable transport, but have to date failed to work together to get this footpath reopened.

Both CBC and GCC say that the other is responsible for it.

GCC say they are responsible for the footpath part but CBC, as the owners of Pilley Bridge Nature Reserve, own the bridge itself.

The old metal bridge has been declared unsafe, needs to be removed and replace with another bridge or solution such as ramp down and up the banks of the reserve.

Over the years I have repeatedly

asked both councils to come to an agreement to get the bridge repaired or replaced.

I have spoken with Charlton Kings Parish Council and Friends of Pilley Bridge about them helping, as part of a community focussed partnership, to get the bridge reopened.

That would mean both GCC and CBC would put in some funds for the replacement but not the whole cost.

I offered to use my ‘Growing our Communities’ funds (£30K) for this – but it is now spent on other things due to the dithering of both councils.

I also asked that the work on this bridge be one of my ‘Highways Local’ projects for 2020/21 – but due to the fact that GCC have not even done any design or costing works yet and CBC removed a large chunk of the money they had set aside, that has now been invested elsewhere as it had to be spent.

I have offered to volunteer to help fundraise for this. I am the fundraising manager for a local charity and I raised £50k for charity when Mayor of Cheltenham, so I know seeking external funding could be a real possibility to get this footpath reopened – but only if

CBC and GCC speak to each other, get the plans done and costed, put in some seed funding.

CBC say that the cost of the project will take up a lot of their climate change budget (budget that was boosted by taking out some of the funds previously set aside to get the bridge repaired or replaced).

GCC tell me they have contacted CBC recently but not yet had a reply. Both councils must have spent a considerable sum on legal fees to date on this project, but sadly we are no closer to getting the bridge reopened than we were when it was closed.

Times are hard financially for local councils, but it is also important it is to ensure the right investment is made so that people can make choices not use their cars to protect our environment.

There is community support for this bridge to be replaced and the footpath reopened. A partnership approach to securing the funding is possible. Again, I urge both councils to work together, with others in the community to get this bridge replaced and the footpath reopened.

Councillor Klara Sudbury

Charlton Park and College Division