Council to seek £7m to rebuild lost bridge
AS MUCH as £7m will be sought from the Welsh Government to rebuild a bridge destroyed during a need to come up with a winter storm. robust business case that
Storm Christoph hit in we can take to Welsh January this year, bringGovernment with a view ing heavy rain, snow and that they will support us strong winds, which with funding.” caused flooding and LlaDenbighshire’s head of nnerch Bridge to be highways, Tony Ward, swept away. added: “Replacing this
The Grade II-listed bridge is a complex matter.bridgebetweenTrefnant and Tremeirchion is on a “So what we’ve been back road to the A55 and doing over the last crosses the River Clwyd. months is some initial
But residents have had feasibility work to see to drive seven miles how we might go about around the river since the replacing the bridge to try storm. The bridge was and establish potential used by around 1,600 costs. At the moment, vehicles a day as drivers these are initial estimates, could avoid St Asaph en but we think it may cost route to the A55. somewhere in the region
Councillors heard that of £6m-£7m.” the bridge was “cherSince the bridge colished” by locals due to its lapsed, officers have been unique shape and stoneworking with consultants work. to consider the options.
Cllr Brian Jones hoped The cost of the work the bridge could be includes cash to be spent replaced quickly. on a pre-construction
“It (the loss of the phase including ground bridge) has caused masinvestigation, river modsive disruption to busielling, land acquisition nesses and communities and detailed design. in the area,” he said. “It’s Denbighshire County not a straightforward Council carried out a matter. At first view to the public survey to gather uninitiated, it might residents’ views; 750 peoappear straightforward. ple responded, including But when you get into the half of the respondents details, there are issues coming from Trefnant around foundations, and Tremeirchion. 95% issues around the river of the respondents want and the locality and the bridge replaced numerous others. quickly. The cabinet
“I want to offer my supagreed to support the recport to the local members ommendation to replace to have this bridge the bridge, subject to replaced at the earliest securing the necessary possible opportunity. We funds.