Thames bridge closure upsets Sandford villagers (From The Oxford Times)

Thames bridge closure upsets Sandford villagers

12:00pm Sunday 7th March 2010 in

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PLANS to close a busy bridge over the Thames have angered villagers.

Sandford Lock access bridge at Sandford-on-Thames will be closed to the public from March 22 until mid-June while the Environment Agency carries out essential maintenance work.

But the move has upset people in the village, who say they will face an inconvenient detour while the work is being carried out.

Sandford Parish Council chairman Dr Nigel Northcott said the bridge was used dozens of times a day by walkers and cyclists.

He urged the Environment Agency to put in a temporary replacement, at a cost of £20,000, or provide a ferry.

He said: “This closure will inconvenience many people going to work and to and from school. Last week, about 100 crossings were made during the day – a number that will go up as the weather improves.

“To cycle, as many people do from Kennington, to or from Sandford, will mean going up to Iffley and crossing the river on the Southern ring road – a three-mile detour taking about 25 minutes.

“The route the agency advises is along an unlit river towpath and across a field.

“Many crossings are made before it is light and after dark.

“For the want of £20,000 to put in place a temporary crossing, hundreds of journeys will be detoured and hundreds of people inconvenienced.

“The agency appears to have made little effort to accommodate this work, which is needed to ensure they can drive heavy vehicles to and from the lock.”

Environment Agency spokesman Dave Ferguson said a temporary bridge or a ferry had been ruled out for safety reasons.

He added: “This bridge forms part of the Thames Path.

“We need to close the footpath to keep the public and workforce safe from the hazards of construction equipment.”

Project manager Seevali Surendran said: “We are aware of the potential disruption this may cause to residents, but we are sure they will appreciate the need for us to carry out this vital work.

“This bridge was built in the 1970s and a recent inspection showed vital repair and replacement work was needed.

“While it is still perfectly safe for pedestrians to use, it is now not strong enough to carry our maintenance vehicles across to the lock, should they need access.

“We know the diversion takes longer, but this is only in the short-term and will ensure we have a safe and suitable bridge for years to come.”