Riverside path will not be fully reopened

A dangerous riverside footpath which has been closed for seven years will not be fully reopened despite £80,000 being set aside to make the route safe for walkers.

But council officials say the section of The Severn Way, from Sydney Avenue to the Telford Way Bridge in Shrewsbury, will be temporarily opened this summer after work was carried out for a makeshift walkway.

The footpath was closed in May 2003 after fears were raised that it could collapse into the River Severn. Council chiefs said the closure was necessary because there was the "likelihood of danger to the public".

It came after investigations discovered it had been eroded by rising flood water.

Richard Knight, access maintenance team leader for Shropshire Council, said work on levelling the ground, fitting timber boards and a handrail to stop members of the public falling in, was due to be completed this week.

Budgets

He said an order would then need to be made to temporarily reopen the route.

Mr Knight said £80,000 was made available from council budgets last year to repair the footpath, but engineers say a permanent fixing of the problem will cost too much.

He said: "In light of a possible increase in the cost of the works it was decided to look for a lower cost option of local diversion further inland.

"This option is still being pursued as it could secure a permanent better route for the path while retaining the riverside character of the path at a significantly lower cost than large-scale engineering works.

"Shropshire Council does have a duty to repair public rights of way and to ensure that they are available to the public. Sometimes, and especially where riverside erosion is concerned, there are many complicated issues to resolve and as in this case we have to close the route until either the funds are available or an agreement can be made for an alternative route to be made.

"This issue is at the forefront of our minds and we are attempting to resolve a permanent solution to the issue as soon as we are able. In the meantime we are carrying out temporary works to open the route as soon as possible so that the route will be open for the summer. It is hoped the route will be open in the coming weeks."

By Russell Roberts