Lucy’s Mill Footbridge: Can We Improve It?

Historical background -- 1590 to 193420th Century replacement bridgeFootbridge characteristicsFootbridge usageAlternative crossing pointsThe way forwardProposed feasibility studyNext stepsMost important -- what do you think and what

are your priorities?

Outline of Presentation

Wooden footbridge with six piers originally built in 1590, paid for by voluntary donations

Adopted by Corporation in 1618 which became responsible for upkeep

Extensive repairs in 1812 and 1827, plus passage widened for barges

Floods in 1867 destroyed 2 piers and bridge had to be completely re-built

Historical Background

1867 Floods Destroyed 2 of the Piers

1867 Bridge Completely Re-built

The Bridge in 1907

In 1934 the rather handsome wooden bridge was replaced by the current reinforced concrete bridge

Designed in Art Deco style to match Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened in 1932

Reinforced concrete fashionable in the 1930sHowever, bridge now nearly 80 years old and

showing its ageHave reached the stage where some form of

upgrading or replacement is desirable

20th Century Replacement

Bridge in 2008: Familiar Sight

Access to current bridge is by way of steep, narrow steps at either end

This causes potentially dangerous conflicts when users going in opposite directions attempt to pass each other on the steps

Bridge width and parapet height are considered sub-standard

Unsuitable link into National Cycle Network

Footbridge Characteristics

Usage studied in 2009 over 2-day periodSaturday 8.00 to 19.30 -- 1,128 crossed the bridgeWednesday 8.00 to 16.30 -- 525 crossed the bridgeUsers included:

258 cyclists (carrying cycles)49 baby pushchairs (lifted over bridge)8 wheelchairs lifted across bridge31 users used walking sticks or other mobility aids

927 people surveyed (out of 1,653 total) signed petition asking for bridge to be improved/replaced

Footbridge Usage

Potentially Dangerous Incidents

Seven Meadows Road bridge has no facilities for pedestrians (e.g., footpaths)

Main pedestrian river crossing is Tramway Bridge alongside Clopton Bridge

Also a Chain Ferry near RST which carries about 50-100 passengers per day on weekdays and 250-300 on weekends

No other suitable crossing points within easy reach

Alternative Crossing Points

The Town’s Chain Ferry

Initial consultant report by Sustrans (charity encouraging walking & cycling) thinks bridge could be adapted to make it suitable for all users

Ramps and other civil works must fit within land & right-of-way currently owned by WCC & SDC

Compulsory purchase of additional land close to bridge is neither desirable nor feasible

Way forward could be to commission full feasibility study to test whether current bridge can be made fully compliant with current building standards on footprint of land owned by WCC & SDC

The Way Forward

Land ownership boundary has already been established

Feasibility study needs to answer two questions:Can existing bridge be adapted/modified to meet

current building standards within the foot print of land currently owned by WCC/SDC?

If not, could a new fully compliant bridge be constructed on the same site within the same footprint of land?

The upgraded/new footbridge must be able to accommodate cyclists & form part of the town’s existing network of walking/cycling routes

Proposed Feasibility Study

Establish whether there is widespread support for improving the footbridge

If yes, form an association – Friends of Lucy’s Mill Bridge – which can approve a constitution

Elect a committee to manage FoLMBApply for charity status, open a bank

account and raise funds to pay for the feasibility study

Next Steps

Do you support improving the footbridge?Should we set up an organisation – Friends

of Lucy’s Mill Bridge – to try and achieve this?

Do you approve/have views on the draft constitution (copies available)?

Would you be willing to join FoLMB?Are you willing to help with fund raising?

What do you think and what are your Priorities??

Old photographs courtesy of the Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive

Survey and photographs of current usage courtesy of Stratford Voice

Chain Ferry figures courtesy of the Chain Ferry operator

Credits

Questions of clarification or general comments

Do you support improving the footbridge?

Should we form FoLMB?

Do you accept/have views on the draft constitution?

Are you willing to join FoLMB?

Are you willing to be invited to join the Management

Committee?

Should we go ahead and fund raise for a feasibility

study?