Trade falls 25pc as bridge work starts

A sub-postmaster near Shrewsbury today said his trade had dropped by 25 per cent, just two weeks into a £400,000 scheme to repair a bridge which is expected to take up to six months to complete.

Work on the 100-year-old Minsterley Bridge, near Shrewsbury, started on February 15 with a programme of repairs to strengthen the structure, which carries the B4387 over Minsterley Brook, near Shrewsbury.

In 1994, the bridge, which is also a listed building, was assessed as being weak and in the meantime talks were held about how to carry out the scheme.

It was originally thought the work would take three months but earlier this year a three-phase plan was announced that will run until mid-August.

Sub-postmaster Bruce Bill, from Minsterley Post Office, today said business had been affected for him since the scheme began, but he said he accepted it had to happen.

He said: "We're down about 25 per cent. Because there are three traffic lights around the bridge, I think people are thinking they will not attempt it and will go elsewhere.

"It's got to be done but we wish it wasn't for so long. They will have to close the bridge for a day when they put the bailey bridge in and that will cause problems.

"We can't wait for it to be over but there's another 22 weeks to go so it's a long time."

The bridge, which was built in 1909, was also showing signs of its age with small areas of concrete having fallen away as it was assessed as being weak.

The first phase is expected to run until the middle of next month and will see the building of a temporary link between Minsterley Bridge and the war memorial.

During construction Minsterley Bridge will remain open to traffic for all but one day when it will be closed to enable the temporary bridge to be craned into position.

The second phase will involve excavating the road over Minsterley Bridge. The third phase will involve resurfacing the B4387.

By John Kirk