‘Why is our bridge being left to deteriorate when Shrewsbury gets theirs repaired?’ Concerns over town’s bridge two years after promises to fix it
Residents have voiced their concerns and frustrations over their town's bridge, which they say is deteriorating.
The bridge in Low Town, Bridgnorth, which carries the B4363 over the River Severn, dates back 200 years and is Grade II listed, but a bridge has spanned that stretch of the river for more than 1,000 years.
The current bridge was rebuilt by Thomas Telford in 1823 due to damage from flooding, traffic, and to replace earlier structures destroyed in the First English Civil War.
In recent years residents have complained that the bridge was looking “grotty” and is in need of repair.
Bridgnorth Town Council began 'negotiations' with Shropshire Council in 2024 in a bid to see the bridge spruced up.
Shropshire Council said at the time it was designing improvements to the bridge and was set to start work on renovations in 2025, which never happened.
Earlier this month, one local resident, Dean McDonald, said he could see “daylight” through some of the stonework on the bridge, which he said was “severely eroded” and reported the matter to Shropshire Council.
He told the council on its Fix My Street online portal: “You can actually see daylight through the load-bearing block.
“It’s only a matter of time before this gives way and there is a high chance that the parapet will give way.”
He added that there were piles of driftwood and “debris” lodged against a pillar to the bridge that was getting “bigger and bigger”.
He is not the only one to have reported issues with the bridge, with numerous complaints on Fix My Street voicing similar concerns.
Last year, town councillor Huw Rees attempted to paint the bridge railings himself but was foiled by health and safety risks.
He said this week it was “frustrating” the bridge was left in the state it was, particularly when Welsh Bridge in Shrewsbury is having similar issues addressed.
He said: “The holes and cracks in the stonework are alarming, and it's especially frustrating to see the continued deterioration when Welsh Bridge is having emergency works carried out to address similar stonework issues.”
Several residents shared the town councillor’s sentiments, with many saying on social media if it were in Shrewsbury the bridge would be fixed.
Bridgnorth Town Council and Shropshire Council has been approached for further comment.
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