Letter: Snail-paced Progress for Full Weir Repair

Published on: 4 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 5 Jul, 2025

Tumbling Bay Weir Footbridge, closed since 2019

From S Callanan

In response to: A Simple Footbridge Should Have Been Affordable to Keep Towpath Over Weir Open

In February 2023, GBC pulled the plug on further funding for the repair of Tumbling Bay weir and footbridge and began to refer enquiries to the National Trust.

At that point the council had already spent over £400,000 on the “temporary” repair to the weir. The bridge and the weir are owned by the NT and it was the Trust that decided the initial temporary repair shouldn’t include the pedestrian bridge. Who within the NT made the decision and why I don’t know. Nor do I know how much the NT spent on arguing with GBC.

In the autumn of 2023 the NT said it was accepting full responsibility. It then moved with snail-paced slowness. By the end of 2024 a survey had been carried out and funding agreed by the NT. But who else was going to pay for the work on an asset owned by the NT?

This year, 2025, will be “taken up with obtaining permissions and agreements”. I think that can only be a flood risk permit or permits from the Environment Agency (EA) and agreement from GBC to let the contractors use some of Millbrook car park just across the river from the weir for equipment and storage. I don’t know why it all has to be so slow.

When the Wey Navigation was dry, application for a permit was made to the EA in December 2019, permission granted in March 2020 and the work carried out in June.

If the work goes ahead in 2026 – which is when the NT has it scheduled – the less able will finally regain access to the towpath on the Shalford side of the weir after nearly seven years. The steps up and down over the Wey at the rowing club or up and down from Flower Walk to the towpath are just too steep for anyone with impaired mobility. Access for all? I don’t think so.

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