Urgent Iron Bridge Action!

Important news about the Iron Bridge!

KWAG fully supports a morning event this Sunday to bring about new attention for the plight of the Grade II Listed Iron Bridge on the estate.Frustrated locals in north Bristol are marking 800 days since a vital – and historic – footbridge was closed to pedestrians by Bristol City Council, with a public rally showing how much the bridge is loved.


Kingsweston iron bridge is a Grade II listed cast iron structure, built circa 1820 by legendary roads engineer John Loudon McAdam (who gave his name to tarmac). It forms the only safe pedestrian link between the Blaise and Kings Weston estates in north Bristol. It was used daily by hundreds of dog walkers, families, schoolchildren and ramblers until it was struck by a high-sided lorry on 4 November 2015. The bridge was swiftly scaffolded by Bristol City Council and closed to pedestrians – and has now remained this way for over 2 years and 2 months. This week marks 800 days since the bridge was last open to foot traffic.

The Facebook group Save the iron bridge – Kingsweston has over 400 members, but campaigners are growing frustrated with the Council’s slow pace and poor communication with locals. The closure affects thousands of residents of Sea Mills, Shirehampton, Combe Dingle and Lawrence Weston, as well as many visitors from the wider Bristol area.

We are urging anyone who uses or cares about the future of the bridge to join them this Sunday 14th Jan, 10-11am and attach their messages of support to the bridge. Messages will be pinned to the scaffolding around the bridge and then put on display locally. “Although Bristol Council has said it’s committed to repairing the bridge, so far we have only had words and no action,” say event organisers Ella Davies and Dan Linstead. “We appreciate budgets are tight, but we need the Council to act now rather than later.

With the footbridge closed, locals are forced to cross the notoriously busy Kingsweston road, with traffic coming fast and unexpectedly in both directions. It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or worse.”

Group members and local councillors will meet at the bridge this Sunday 14th January at 10am (press photocall at 11am) to raise awareness ahead of a full council meeting on
Monday.

For more information and to join the Facebook group, visitgreenironbridge.com. contact organisers Ella Davies (ella.davies@yahoo.co.uk, 07707 125227)
or Dan Linstead (danlinstead@yahoo.co.uk, 07866 551632)

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