A TENBURY councillor has made a formal request for a new pedestrian bridge to be built over the river Teme.

The present bridge carries a large volume of traffic through the town, but Councillor David Chambers believes it is not suitable in its present form. 

“Every day we see cars, farm vehicles and lorries mounting the footpaths on either side of the bridge, often with pedestrians being pushed closer to the bridge railings," he said.

"It can only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or worse. The bridge is simply no longer fit for purpose."

A number of surveys have taken place to see what can be done to ensure the bridge is both safe for vehicles and pedestrians, including having lights and a one-way traffic system.

“We have now reached a point where the bridge is simply not wide enough to accommodate both vehicles and pedestrians," said Coun Chambers.

"My proposal is to prohibit pedestrians from using the present bridge, reduce the width of each footpath by 50 per cent, thereby increasing the width of the carriageway substantially and then by installing bollards along the length of both reduced footpaths, in order to prevent vehicles from driving too close to the bridge railings.

"I have requested a new footbridge to be erected either at the side of the current bridge or close to it, in order for pedestrians to then be able to cross the river safely."

Currently, the boundary between Worcestershire and Shropshire is halfway across the river, so the proposal has to be agreed by the respective councils.

“It is too early to begin commenting on the funding of a new pedestrian bridge,but I am hoping that it can become a joint enterprise between the two local authorities with additional funding coming from central government if necessary," added Coun Chambers.