Latest on the Bailey Bridge

The Walberswick Parish Council (WPC) Chair, as delegated by the WPC, is continuing to work with Suffolk County Council (SCC), Suffolk Highways (SH) and others to do all we can to mitigate the impact of the bridge closure. The second opinion engineering report is expected at the end of April/early May. According to SH, there is some risk that this engineer may recommend immediate closure if the bridge is deemed unsafe, but we hope that this will not be the case. Local representatives continue to push for a September closure, while SH maintains that working in the summer months would be preferable.

Once the bridge is closed, mitigation will be around an expanded ferry service, including extended operating hours (early mornings to early evening), a bigger boat and more crossing points. The Ferry Operator has made significant progress by securing a larger boat, investigating additional crossing points, and assessing feasibility. An expanded service will require two crossing points. Initially, the working group looked at a second crossing further upriver, across from the Harbour Master. However, upon inspection of the proposed jetty and pontoon, it is not feasible due to unsuitable public access and a lack of space to queue on the Walberswick side. Therefore, we are now exploring the possibility of having two boats crossing at, or near to, the site of the existing ferry. The working group is also discussing the possibility of a late evening bus to transport diners and pub visitors after the ferry closes.

Assuming arrangements can be made for the expanded ferry service, the biggest issue is cost. In the view of the representatives, unless the crossing is very low cost, existing users of the Bailey Bridge will be deterred. To avoid this, SCC would need to subsidise the ferry service but this is still under consideration. The cost of a late evening bus shuttle would also have to be taken into consideration.

Finally, to deal with the likely increase in road traffic due to the closure of the bridge, as well as an increase in staycations due to Covid-19 restrictions, the WPC Chair is in discussion with, and meeting separately, SH to undertake limited emergency work to control parking and traffic gridlock using additional yellow lines on the Street. In particular, SH are expected to make use of the schematics done by the Walberswick Safe Space Team to consider proposals, on an emergency basis, to put in limited (single yellow) and no parking areas (double yellow) on the Street by the Church and on the approach to and around the Village Hall/Jubilee seat. The Council will continue to provide updates through the Village News and on the Walberswick Website.