The campaign to provide a safe pedestrian footway across the canal has been ongoing for many years, but an increasing number of heavy lorries on the A338, an ageing population, and greater emphasis on health and safety have brought the matter to the fore again in the last two years. The Town Council know of the great difficulties experienced crossing the bridge by those who have poor balance, rely on walking aids, wheelchairs, or mobility scooters, and also mothers with pushchairs and toddlers.( It is not just the narrowness of the pavement which causes problems, but the adverse camber and difficult approach by the “Tuttipole” on the west side and high step approaching from the north on the east side.)

The present position is that our Council generally support the need for a new footbridge, West Berks Council approve, and some funds are available. The views of many others have to be considered, however, including British Waterways, English Heritage, boatowners, and the population of Hungerford who have a love of the Wharf and the historic view of the bridge.

A bridge at low level is one solution, because it could be built in a style which is in keeping with the surroundings, but it would have to lift, or swing, or slide to allow boats to pass. Consequently it would not be available to pedestrians all of the time, and with the possibility of a Marina to the west, for less time as canal traffic increases.

West Berks Council, and British Waterways favour a high level bridge which has the advantage of always being available, and requiring less routine maintenance. It would, however, change the historic view.

Campaigners want the matter resolved before someone is killed or injured on Hungerford Bridge. They put safety before other considerations and urge a solution without further delay.

Alan Staddon Bearwater

From a Local Boater's point of view. Fixed high or Swing low?

Low bridge, to operate this a boater must land (obvious!), the landings either side of the bridge MUST be on the towpath side (why?). Is it appreciated just how long this bridge could be in the ‘open’ position (probably not).

To operate, Land on towpath side and operate opening of bridge, the towpath side is especially important for a single handed boater ( only 1 person on the boat). If the boater had to cross over to get back to his boat, go through, moor up, go back and cross over to close, just think how long the bridge would be open.

How long could the bridge be open? So the (single handed) boater has tied up and is opening the bridge, ( timing starts at this point to stop the pedestrians). Goes back to the boat, goes through, ties up, goes back, and then sees either some boats coming out of the lock or coming from the Sanitation Station (to the East), or worse still, sees them coming from BOTH directions. The rule of boating is NOT to close the bridge (just like a Lock) in the face of approaching boats. I’m not a time & motion study person, but my guess is 15 to 20 minutes that people can’t cross! Just a simple open, go through & close, could be 5 to 8 minutes!

Now I don’t mind whether it’s high or low, because when boaters stop to operate locks or bridges it’s all part of the ‘charm’, but will the pedestrians be happy when the weather is inclement? Time taken to walk across a high level bridge, probably less than one minute. Maintenance costs of a high level bridge, probably 100th of a Swing bridge. Reliability of a high level bridge, probably 1 million times over the Swing bridge (ask British Waterways)!

Name & Address supplied.