Boxted Bridge decision delayed for councillors to visit site
The future of a Victorian bridge hangs in the balance after councillors deferred a decision to demolish it.Boxted Bridge, which straddles the Essex-Suffolk border near Colchester, was shut over safety fears in June 2023.Essex County Council was expected to approve a scheme to remove it on Friday, but members instead voted to conduct a site visit before deciding its fate.Parish councillor Jon Hunt said it sent a "strong message" about seeking alternative solutions.
The steel structure was built four years before the end of Queen Victoria's reign, carrying people over the River Stour.An inspection in 2018 found the bridge was "dangerously weak" due to corrosion of its beams.The county council planned to demolish it and build a wider structure in its place, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Councillors voted to defer the demolition decision so they could inspect the bridge themselves and consider alternative options.Labour councillor Dave Harris told the meeting: "I don't think we've got enough in front of us at the moment to do anything but either refuse or defer."It was not specified when the inspection would take place.
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Wales Online
an hour ago
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North Wales Live
10 hours ago
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Fire at ancient Anglesey church nearing end of £2.3m upgrade
Concerns for an ancient Anglesey church were raised when smoke was seen billowing high into the sky. St Cybi's in Holyhead is undergoing extensive redevelopment and parishioners feared a fire could jeopardise next month's scheduled reopening. It's understood vandals set light to portaloos being used by workers refurbishing the church, which dates from the 6th century and is built into Holyhead's Roman wall. The fire spread to adjacent timber stacked ready for use inside the building. Smoke was seen rising from the churchyard at around 6.30pm on Thursday, June 5. Although firefighters extinguished the blaze before causing serious damage, it's believed a section of the church's exterior wall was left charred and blackened. This is expected to weather and disappear over time. "It could have been a lot worse," said one observer. St Cybi's and its adjacent 14th century chapel, Eglwys y Bedd, are currently being redeveloped as part of a £2.3m project funded by UK Levelling up money. The church will reopen as a 'more accessible' multi-use community hub with a social enterprise cafe. The chapel, built on the site of St Cybi's original cell, is being extended using Anglesey limestone, quarried in Moelfre. In the plans are some exciting innovations designed to appeal to a younger demographic. Five ancient churches in the Diocese of Bangor are being upgraded as part of the Llefa'r Cerrig - Stones Shout Out initiative. Air source heat pumps are being installed to provide underfloor heating, and solar panels placed on south-facing roofs. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now St Cybi's is one of the five beneficiaries, with a shop and children's play area also planned. But the work hasn't been without controversy. Some parisioners were unhappy on learning that traditional old pews were being replaced by pews that can be moved to facilitate events and meetings. There was also anger over the transfer of St Cybi's organ to another church that can afford its estimated £200,000 repair bill. Critics claimed the heart of St Cybi's was being 'ripped out of it'. Meanwhile, the project timeline slipped when skeletal remains were discovered under the church and in the churchyard. In a pit beneath the chancel near the altar, a 'large collection of unarticulated human remains of unknown date' were found in summer 2023. They were buried beneath the church's 'Victorian layer', laid by architect Gilbert Scott during his reordering of the church in 1876-1879. It's suspected they had been reinterred, probably from multiple graves within the churchyard. All remains removed were due to be reinterred within the churchyard. Excitingly, other archaeological digs revealed what is believed to be part of the original footpath laid by Roman settlers at the site thousands of years ago. It's hoped St Cybi's can reopen in late July.
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a day ago
- Metro
Network of Victorian tunnels discovered under massive Surrey sinkhole
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