Ludlow’s Ludford Bridge closes after masonry fall

Wednesday 5th January 2011, 10:26AM GMT.

Ludford Bridge in Ludlow is closed to traffic today

CHUNKS OF masonry have fallen from a historic Shropshire bridge forcing it to be closed to traffic and pedestrians.

Witnesses described hearing a “crack and a crash” when part of the parapet of Ludford Bridge in Ludlow dropped into the River Teme yesterday afternoon.

The bridge, which carries the B4361 road over the river, was closed at about 4pm yesterday and engineers from Shropshire Council were due to meet today to inspect the bridge and see what repair work needed to be done.

Graham Willson-Lloyd, landlord of the Charlton Arms which is next to the bridge, said: “I was in the car park of the Charlton and we heard a terrific crack and a crash.

“My first thought was that somebody had driven into the river and that a vehicle had gone through the parapet. We could see lots of brown, bubbly water under the bridge.”

Mr Willson-Lloyd said the bridge had been closed to pedestrians as well as traffic.

He said even with an optimistic head on, he did not see it being open to vehicles for at least three months.

Barriers remained in place today.

Councillor Tom Carter, chairman of Ludford Parish Council, said: “We would encourage them to at least allow pedestrians, that’s what we will be trying to do, otherwise it’s going to make it difficult for people.”

Councillor Carter said he understood water had got into the bridge and frozen, forcing the stones out of the structure.

Shropshire Council cabinet member for transport Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith said: “I would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused, but I hope people will understand we need to ensure the bridge is safe before we can reopen it to traffic or pedestrians. Engineers will assess the damage and repair work will start as quickly as possible.”

Traffic is being diverted via the B4361 Overton Road to the A49, then north to the Henley Road roundabout and then into Ludlow along Henley Road, Gravel Hill and Station Drive.

Dr Margaret Clark, from Ludlow Historical Research Group, said the bridge in its current form was at least 300 years old, but that parts of it would be around 600 years old.

She said that in the 15th century, there was a chapel to St Catherine on the bridge, with a hermit.

By Hannah Costigan

View more: Ludlow news.

1
Will Andrews

January 6, 2011 at 12:47

About time they knocked that creaking old bridge down and made a proper one for two way traffic and larger trucks. Amazing it has lasted as long as it has.

What is it with Ludlow and it’s clapped-out bridges? Back in 2007 the town’s Burway bridge was swept away in the floods taking a house with it. Now this old thing is on it’s last legs. The town is becoming famous for all the wrong reasons.

The planners have got a nightmare on there hands now. This month they planned to close an access road into the town centre to repair a collapsing shop. Look’s like those plans are out the window.

No wonder there are so many scaffolders in Ludlow – the place is falling to pieces!!

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- Grim Reaper
  
  January 6, 2011 at 16:57
  
  Knock it down? I don’t think so. We need less traffic in Ludlow, not more. Clearly, you have no knowledge of either Ludlow’s or England’s history and the part this particular bridge has played in both.
  
  This bridge is extremely historic and deserves to be better maintained than it has been. As I’ve said elsewhere, this failure has been a long time coming. Neglect, along with the pounding from far too much traffic using the bridge, including HGVs which, with the bypass, shouldn’t be using Ludford Bridge at all, have contributed to this situation; even if it is the severe weather which finally has caused the masonry to fail. Following its repair, close this bridge to all vehicles, except light vehicles and while we’re at it, shut the Broadgate to traffic permanently. Have some consideration for the historic fabric of our town!
  
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- Old Scrote
  
  January 6, 2011 at 19:19
  
  Yes, what a great idea. Demolish an attractive and historic bridge and replace it with a concrete one. And while we’re at it, let’s get rid of all those tiny streets and old buildings and replace them with a nice modern town centre. No one will want to live here or visit the town any more, but who cares as long as we can drive into the town a tiny bit quicker?
  
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2
Cross Ludford-Bridgeman

January 6, 2011 at 17:33

Dear Mr Andrews, Thanks for your constructive comment. I must say that it has made me so much happier that I don’t know you. Are you really serious when you suggest knocking the poor old bridge down? If so then I suggest that you leave it alone and live somewhere nice like the edge of the M54 where you can watch the trucks to your heart’s content. I think the old buildings in Ludlow add to its charm, and I think that to suggest that they should go in favour of ease of traffic flow is plain ludicrous. I think that big trucks should not be allowed to use that bridge full stop.

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3
Driver

January 7, 2011 at 14:38

I feel really sorry for the folks and traders in Ludlow that once again they are facing the closure of a bridge for months.
The comments by a so called engineer that it will take this amount of time to correct is ridiculous .
I have no doubt that consultants will be called, Health and safety will get their oar in and it will cost thousands even before any reconstruction work will take place. There will be meetings by many yellow glad experts ? for weeks and cost of what is a very simple repair will reach at least £250.000.
All they need to do is get a good local builder and the job will be completed in two weeks.
That of course is far to simple.

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4
CONFUSED

January 8, 2011 at 18:00

Driver,
May be you do not consider that the Bridge is a listed structure and thaught needs to be given to do the correct type of repair.I would think an investigation as to why the bridge has failed in this manner would be a good idea,in order to carry out the repair correctly,and to perhaps stop any further failure.There is also the risk of further damage whilst carring out the repair so plans have to be in place to prevent this.

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5
Hobbis

January 9, 2011 at 20:51

No need whatsoever for lorries to cross that bridge…access to market etc could be from A49 with roundabout at junction near Ashford Bowdler.Repair the bridge and cherish it….watch the news for similar problems at Tenbury especially when Tesco lorries start!

Why do our local councils not see this coming…is it the sweeteners that blind them?

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