Calls for bridge to reopen amid school run issues

Parents are calling for temporary measures to reopen a damaged bridge amid school run issues.

Lower Hempsted Bridge, which previously provided pedestrian access over the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, was closed by Gloucestershire Highways on April 22 due to safety concerns.

Inspectors found the tarmac on the structure had worn away, exposing the wooden foundations.

Mother Kirsty said the closure is placing added strain on her son, who is preparing for his GCSEs, as he now faces an extra 30-minute walk each day.

But, a Gloucestershire County Council spokesperson said the bridge is likely to remain closed until planned work is completed in July.

And a Canal and River Trust spokesperson has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the closure, the Local Democracy Service reported.

They said: "Having secured the funding needed, we're currently waiting for specialist material to be delivered before we remove the current bridge surface and deck and replace it with a new timber deck on behalf of the council."

Kirsty, whose children attend Ribston High School and Crypt School in Hempsted, said the closure has created a "long old walk" for her kids.

"My son is in the middle of his GCSEs - the additional pick ups have had a real impact on all our lives," she said.

Jasmine's son also attends The Crypt School and is completing his GCSEs.

She told the BBC the bridge closed with "no warning" just before children returned back to school after the Easter break.

She said: "My son is doing 25 GCSE exams this summer - adding extra stress by him having to walk a long distance to school isn't needed.

"The solution for us would be a temporary fix [of the bridge] over the May half term - kids could then utilise the bridge for the remainder of the term and elevate the pressure on parents and students."

Grandmother Jen, whose grandson attends The Crypt School, said she's had to cancel her holiday to be readily available for pick ups.

She said: "It's now virtually impossible for children to walk to and from school."

Dibs Bucknell, the Hempsted Residents Association's Highways representative, said residents are disappointed that despite constant emails over three years, nothing was done before about the deteriorating state of the bridge.

He said: "Only when the Hempsted Residents Association involved the media did anything happen."

"Surely a thin steel plate can be laid in the centre to allow access. We have written to our MP to ask him to follow it up," he added.

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