Delays to the start of work on Bath’s historic Cleveland Bridge have prompted the city’s MP to host a virtual public meeting to bring people up to date with the latest news about what’s happening.
The bridge – which forms part of the A36/A46 strategic route between the M4 and the south coast – is in urgent need of repair and is set to close for 12 weeks so works can be carried out.
They were due to start at the end of May, but have been delayed. In light of this, Bath MP Wera Hobhouse is hosting a virtual public meeting with a panel of speakers who will bring attendees up to date with the latest news and plans for the bridge’s repair.
The bridge is a Grade II* listed structure and was originally built for pedestrians and horse drawn carriages 200 years ago. Now it takes some 17,000 vehicles per day, including HGVs. The bridge was strengthened in 1997 and approved for 18 tonne vehicles, but the government insisted that the Council could not impose a weight limit.
Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has led the call for Heavy Goods Vehicles to be kept off the bridge, because of the damage caused. Mrs Hobhouse presented a petition to Parliament and has lobbied Government Ministers to bring forward urgent work to adopt the A350 corridor as the main route from the south coast to the M4, which is the government’s preferred option but might take more than 10 years.
On June 17th, she will host a panel of speakers who will bring us up to date on the latest news and plans for the bridge’s repair, and on the impact this will have on transport in our city and the surrounding area.
Speakers include:
· Mandy Bishop, Chief Operating Officer, B&NES Council
· Cllr Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Transport
· Cllr Kevin Guy, Leader, B&NES Council
· Cllr Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader for Resources, B&NES Council
Wera Hobhouse urged residents to attend the event:
“Cleveland Bridge is being forced to carry much heavier vehicles than it can sustain. Repairing the damage will take time and will cause disruption across the city. I will continue to fight to keep HGVs off the bridge.
Please join me and my guests to learn more about what’s going on and to engage with local decision makers. You will have the opportunity to ask questions. Please register for your free place now.”
To register for a ticket visit www.werahobhouse.co.uk
I cannot understand why the Highways Agency has allowed the A350 improvement works to be so delayed. Bath is choking under the traffic along London Road.