A bridge owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Wales has been closed to traffic for seven years due to safety worries and there is no sign of it reopening any time soon. Inglis Bridge in Monmouth connects the Osbaston estate to the west of Monmouth and in recent years has only been open to pedestrians.
But even walkers can no longer use the bridge now because of structural worries. The MoD owns the bridge because it was designed by Charles Edward Inglis, the director of the bridging department of the Royal Engineers, during World War I, and the bridge is a type of military bridge, says Wales Online.
The listed structure was closed to vehicles in 2018 but remained open to walkers and cyclists until last year before it was deemed completely unsafe for any public use. For many – including children and their parents at the Church in Wales Osbaston School – it means a more than one-mile detour.
Labour MP for Monmouthshire Catherine Fookes said an alternative, even if a temporary and cheaper solution, needs to be found. “The closure of Inglis Bridge has caused significant disruption for residents in Osbaston – including families, schoolchildren, people with disabilities, cyclists and dog walkers,” she said.
“I’ve raised this issue with the Ministry of Defence at every opportunity and have been pushing hard for a solution that works for the whole community. While a full refurbishment may be expensive, we have been looking into the prospect of a simpler pedestrian only alternative, which families at Osbaston School have overwhelmingly supported. As we wait to hear back with an update from the MoD, I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this vital route is reopened as soon as possible.”
(Pic: Wikipedia)
