Questions asked about bridge alterations

For years people have been complaining about the fact that pedestrians have to share the carriageway with vehicles while crossing Burford bridge. For the last two years Burford town council (BTC) has been working with Fulbrook parish council (FPC) and Oxfordshire Highways on how to make the bridge safer. A plan has been developed and work to implement it is due to start on 7 April. The idea is to install a raised walkway, about four inches high, along the east side of the bridge with a bell-shaped bollard at each end to make sure drivers avoid it. A sum of £120,000 has been set aside to pay for it.

At this rather late stage some BTC councillors raised questions at their meeting last night (4 February) about whether this is such a good idea. Points made included whether pedestrians might fall off the walkway into the path of vehicles or that vehicles might mount the walkway. It was suggested that the walkway will be too narrow to be used by wheelchairs, that the walkway might give pedestrians a false sense of security and that vehicles might hit the bollards and bounce off into the parapet on the opposite side.

Distirict Councillor Hugo Ashton reassured the meeting that the walkway will be wide enough for wheelchairs and that it has been developed by experts at Oxfordshire Highways who presumably know a little about designing safe roads. It was also pointed out that there would be resistance (to put it mildly) from Fulbrook residents if the plan were to be abandoned. The bridge is more important to them than to Burfordians as many Fulbrook people walk across to visit shops in Burford whereas those living south of the river may only do so for social reasons or for exercise.

After some debate it was agreed that Highways officials should be asked to make a site visit together with councillors to discuss the plan and that FPC should be invited to attend. One councillor suggested that this should be for reassurance (rather than with a view to pulling the plug on the project) .