New £7 million footbridge in Telford gets council backing - with construction to start in 2017
Councillors unanimously approved plans for a new footbridge to Telford Railway Station, despite saying they felt designers had "missed an opportunity" to design an iconic new feature for the borough.
Members raised concerns over the lifespan of a possible UPVC covering of the new bridge connecting Telford Central Railway Station.
The scheme is expected to cost about £7 million and will be funded by the Department for Transport.
Councillor Nicola Lowery, ward member for the Ironbridge Gorge, said: "As ward member of an area with an internationally reknowned bridge, I was very interested in this proposal.
"I hope planners will take influence from the Ironbridge and use modern materials and an iconic design.
"This is a highly visible gateway into Telford for people arriving by train and by car.
"But I don't think this design feels ambitious enough. I think it has missed an opportunity to create an iconic landmark that will really stand the test of time.
Councillor Nigel Dugmore echoed her sentiments, adding: "We are missing a trick, there should be some nod to the Iron Bridge in terms of the design."
Councillor Dugmore also raised concerns about the proposed silver or off-white colouring of the bridge, asking what the cost would be of cleaning the covering, and about what lifespan the covering would have and how often it would need to be replaced during the bridge's 120 year expected lifespan.
Councillor Leon Murray added: "I am shocked that a bridge that was built in 1986 is almost completely obsolete by 2016 and I welcome the news that this new bridge will have a lifespan of 120 years.
"I hope we will use the best available materials so that this will stnad the test of time."
The plans were approved subject to conditions, including one put forward by Councillor Lowery for the public art on the bridge to reference the Iron Bridge.
The old bridge, which has been in place since the 1980s will remain in place until early 2018, to allow pedestrian access until the new bridge is complete.
The existing foot and cycle bridge spans two lines of railway, the A442 and Rampart Way, which is part of the A5.
But it is steep and does not meet laws that require pathways to be accessible to the disabled.
It would cost about £2 million to make the necessary repairs and renovations to bring it up to standard.
Officers also told the meeting yesterday that a main support of the bridge stands in the central reservation of the A442, and if struck by a lorry or large vehicle stood a high risk of collapse.
Construction on the new bridge is likely to start in early 2017 and will involve a two-week closure of the northbound A442.
