Landmark Ludlow bridge to be shut for weeks after lorry damage

Fears have been raised that repairs to the grade I-listed bridge over the River Teme could be expensive and that the closure could hit trade in the town centre.

A stretch of the wall of the 15th century bridge is missing after the accident on Sunday night.

The bridge, which is the main southern route out of the town centre towards the A49 and Leominster, was cordoned off yesterday and is expected to be closed for almost a month.

Residents gathered near the bridge throughout yesterday to see the damage caused. Keith Stokes, 58, said: "I used to live just up from here in Lower Broad Street and sit on that very wall. Years ago there was an accident like this on the other side and it took two months to get fixed."

The bridge, a scheduled ancient monument which was the site of the Battle of Ludford Bridge in 1459, is only wide enough to take single-file traffic, and traffic lights manage the flow in both directions.

Mr Stokes said he had seen some near misses and tight squeezes there in the past.

Cedric Bosi, who runs the Charlton Arms Hotel on the Ludford side of the bridge, said he learnt about did not see the crash – which happened at about 9.45pm on Sunday – but quickly learnt about it through social media. He said: "From what I understand a lorry reversed into it. It's going to be painful for whoever is going to pay for the work, it will be tens of thousands of pounds to repair I'd imagine."

He said he had not seen business suffer as yet, but that may have been because people had been drawn to the area to see the damage.

He added: "People have been coming along to see it almost as a tourist attraction and some have stopped for a beer while they're here," he said.

"But I'm sure it will affect business if it is shut for weeks. We are coming up to Mother's Day and Easter is early this year as well. I think it will affect business in the town centre as well as there is a diversion for traffic in place.

"But I can't do anything about it. Business is open as usual, the staff have to work and the rent has to be paid," he said."

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said the bridge was closed to all vehicles by 10.15pm on Sunday and diversions put in place along the A49 and into Ludlow via Henley Road and Gravel Hill. He said: "A large hole had been made in the bridge wall by a vehicle. The hole is substantial and has also disturbed the adjoining wall and its attachment to the road surface.

"Pedestrian access was deemed safe along the opposite side of the bridge."

"Inspections of the bridge have been undertaken by both our structures team and a bridge engineer. There is some emergency work required before the bridge can safely be used by vehicles and it looks like the road will need to be shut to vehicles for at least three weeks to undertake the necessary repairs."