12/10/18 News Release
Supported by:
Suffolk Highways
Walberswick Parish Council
Southwold Town Council
Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils Reydon Parish Council
The Harbour Master
Bailey footbridge closure: Walberswick – Southwold
Following the emergency closure of the bailey footbridge crossing the River Blyth - connecting Walberswick with Southwold - a meeting took place at Southwold Town Hall on the evening of 10 October with representatives from the local authorities and communities in attendance.
The meeting was convened with all parties in a bid to hold an open discussion about the inspection of the bailey footbridge, its initial findings and to discuss sensible alternative arrangements whilst the bridge connecting these two communities remains closed.
Suffolk Highways understands the impact that the closure is having on local residents and apologises for the ongoing inconvenience being caused. However, it was agreed that the safety of the public using the bridge is of paramount importance, and that the resultant closure was the correct action to take whilst a more permanent solution is considered.
Suffolk Highways will consider all possible remedial solutions for the bridge, whether temporary, interim or long-term. A full report on the findings of the special inspection is in the process of being written; the completion of this report is being prioritised due to the high profile nature of the closure.
This report is expected by the end of October 2018, at which point the findings will be considered and discussed at another meeting with the local authorities and community representatives.
Over the coming weeks, Suffolk Highways, in partnership with the local community,has organised for the following arrangements to be in place to support local people continue with their day-to-day commitments, helping to reduce some of the inconvenience caused:
• The ferry service will continue into next week during the hours of 9am – 5pm (Monday 15 October – Friday 19 October) at a subsidised price of 50p per trip.
• The ferry service will be open as normal the following week (Monday 22 October – Friday 29 October) as it is half-term. The price will then continue at its standard £1 per trip.
• An early morning and late night taxi/shuttle service to get you from one community to the other in exceptional circumstances – contact will need to be made with Cllr Michael Ladd if you want to make use of this service (michael.ladd@suffolk.gov.uk)
The ferry service will continue to operate as normal at weekends, during the hours of 10am-4pm.
If you have any further enquiries regarding the closure of the bailey bridge in Southwold, please email customer.service@suffolk.gov.uk or call 0345 606 6171.
Lloyd Jones
Communications and Customer Services Manager
Suffolk Highways I Phoenix House, 3 Goddard Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5NP T: 01473 264924 I M: 07850 883186 I www.suffolk.gov.uk/highways