Liberal Democrat Councillors in Bath city centre are welcoming news that works to restore access across Victoria Bridge could begin as early as autumn 2012.
The bridge has been closed for over a year due to safety concerns but draft budget papers published by B&NES Council include a commitment to seek a “permanent solution” to re-open the bridge.
Councillor Andrew Furse (Liberal Democrat, Kingsmead) commented: “We have been calling for repairs to take place since the bridge first began to show signs of wear 3 years ago so I’m delighted that, after only 6 months, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet has shown its commitment to get on with the restoration of this important route across the river.“
Councillor Ben Stevens (Liberal Democrat, Widcombe) added: “Victoria Bridge is an important part of Bath’s 19th Century industrial heritage, so I am pleased that the Council is prioritising these repairs.
“Reopening this vital link will make life much easier for cyclists and pedestrians who have been inconvenienced for over a year by its closure. This will benefit residents and visitors to the city alike and will hopefully make it easier to get around by walking and cycling.“
The Council’s budget plans include an indicative budget of £2.440m for a permanent solution and the Council aims to secure heritage funding and grants to contribute towards this.
