Another bill for historic Canford Bridge (From Bournemouth Echo)

Another bill for historic Canford Bridge

9:30am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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HOT on the heels of a £3 million update, a further £360,000 could be spent restoring Canford Bridge.

The Grade II listed structure which carries the B3073 over the River Stour into Wimborne had major work carried out in 2008 which kept it closed to traffic for four months.

During the £3.2m eight-month engineering project a new pedestrian and cycle bridge was constructed, reinforced concrete slabs were put in place and the flood arches were refurbished.

However, repairs to the arches of the main bridge were not included at the time and now Borough of Poole and Dorset County Council are to fund vital works to prevent further deterioration of the stonework.

The main bridge was first opened to the public in 1813 and the flood arches date back to 1675.

Work is expected to be completed without the need for the road to be closed, although some off-peak single way working may be required.

Borough of Poole has approved the project but does not know how long it will take or precisely when it will be carried out, although the Environment Agency will only allow work in the river between May 1 and October 31.

It will include the removal of sections of loose and deteriorating render, removal of loose stone, specialist mortar repair and replacement of stones.

An estimate for the work is £300,000; however, the two councils have allocated a budget of £360,000.

“As the structure is Grade II listed the council has an obligation to maintain it to prevent it falling into disrepair,” said a report which went before Poole’s transportation advisory group.

“Consequently not completing the repairs to the river arches is not an option available to the council.”