Ludford Bridge repairs must be priority, say Ludlow traders

Traders have called on Shropshire Council to make repairing a key bridge in Ludlow a top priority after its closure hit businesses in the town.

Ludford Bridge over the River Teme in Ludlow is closed to traffic but will also be closed to pedestrians from 9.30am until 3.30pm tomorrow so engineers can carry out investigations before beginning repairs next month.

Rick Hill, assistant manager at Ludlow Homecare, opposite the bridge, said: "All the passing trade is completely gone, it's very, very quiet down this neck of the woods, everybody is talking about it and everybody is worried about it.

"It certainly has been quieter these last two weeks. People don't come down this part of Ludlow anymore because you can't get out."

Carole Clayton, president of Ludlow Chamber of Trade, said: "We appreciate what Shropshire Council are doing on this, but that work does need to be completed as soon as possible."

Shropshire Council said today it could not give an exact date for the start of repairs but expected it would be in late February.

The council said because of the type of work and the size of the equipment used, there would not be enough room to keep the bridge open to pedestrians while the drilling took place.

Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for transport and IT, who also represents Ludlow South, said "every reasonable effort" would be made to reopen the bridge to pedestrians as soon as possible.

The bridge was closed earlier this month after chunks of masonry fell from the structure into the river.

It is expected to be closed for up to four months.