Edge-of-town footbridge plan officially dropped

The 250 metre long, seven metre high pedestrian and cycle bridge was planned to be built connecting Fishmore View, on the northern edge of Ludlow, with a planned new estate of 215 homes.

But the company building the new homes, Tesni, has now successfully applied to remove the controversial bridge from the plans, after indicating it would do do in November.

Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North, said it was a relief.

He said: "This action follows my request on behalf of Fishmore View residents.

"They were concerned that their quiet cul de sac would become clogged with parked cars owned by dog walkers using the proposed riverside park the other side of the Corve.

"Now they can relax. The footbridge has been removed from the plans and will not be built."

The housing estate, complete with bridge, was given the go-ahead on appeal in December 2015, after having been refused twice by Shropshire Council’s south planning committee.

Both Shropshire Council and the developer had told the planning inspector’s inquiry they would be content for the scheme to be approved without the footbridge.

“But the planning inspector was unsympathetic to local arguments and approved the footbridge anyway," said Councillor Boddington.

He said he was glad Tesni planners had honoured their pledge to take the footbridge out of the plans, even though they did not need to.

"I am very pleased that the community’s voice has been listened to," he said.

The 26 acres of land earmarked for 215 homes, between Bromfield Road and the A49 bypass, has gone on the market for an undisclosed price.