Following a recent meeting between councillors and Council bosses funding
has been secured for Aberbechan Bridge a County Councillor has revealed.
The bridge near Newtown was closed on January 2nd, after the council
received reports that cracks had appeared.
County Councillor Russell George, who is also the Conservative Welsh
Assembly candidate for Montgomeryshire has said that in a meeting with the
Chief finance officer and the Head of Highways at Powys County Council,
funding would be secured for the Aberbechan Bridge.
Councillor George said:
"I have had confirmation that the Council will fund the money from its
reserves. The cost to repair the bridge could be anything between half a
million to a million pounds"
Design works are now due to commence and discussions will now take place
with CADW and the Environment agency to obtain the necessary consents for
the works at the bridge to begin.
Councillor George who has been pursing an early start date said that the
closure of the bridge has been a huge inconvenience to local people and that
he was keen to be involved in finding a solution
"The Environment Agency will not allow any works to begin until May which is
obviously frustrating, but I'm keen that all the consents and contracts etc
are completed so works can begin straight away"
"Listed building consent is also required but as the Council are not
changing the appearance of the structure, I am hoping that there will not be
any problems obtaining this"