Confusion Over County Council Repair of River Footbridge

Published on: 11 Feb, 2018
Updated on: 14 Feb, 2018

St Catherine’s Footbridge, a mile south of the town centre on the River Wey.

Questions are being raised by local residents and even one borough councillor about a Surrey County Council notice of impending work to St Catherine’s footbridge.

There are doubts that even the National Trust who own and manage the Wey Navigation have been informed and there is no mention of it on their website.

The Surrey County Council notice that has caused confusion.

The bridge, constructed in the mid-1980s, spans the River Wey a mile south of Guildford and is used by local residents and those walking the North Downs Way long distance footpath preventing a lengthy diversion to the town centre.

A ferry service that used to operate close by has been out of service since the 1960s.

The SCC notice states that work will commence “w/c [week commencing] Monday 5th February” but there is no sign that it has. It also implies that the bridge will be replaced rather than simply repaired.

The wooden structure of the bridge is showing signs of wear and tear and has been patched in several areas.

Non-native hardwood planking and superstructure timbers have been showing signs of wear and tear for some time and several temporary patches are already in place.

Angela Gunning, a Labour borough councillor for Stoke who lives in St Catherine’s said: “What is going on? There has been no discussion about this.”

Informed of the issue by The Guildford Dragon, Cllr David Goodwin (Lib Dem, Guildford South West), whose constituents are affected, has agreed to investigate.”

Matt Furniss, the Conservative county councillor for the Shalford division, just within the boundaries of which the bridge is believed to lie, has been asked to comment.

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