Reopening the Black Bridge, a crucial footbridge on the Wye Valley Walk near Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean, will cost more than £3 million, Gloucestershire County Council has revealed. This former railway bridge, also known as Stowfield Viaduct, connects Gloucestershire and Herefordshire over the River Wye and is a key part of the 136-mile Wye Valley Walk, attracting tens of thousands of walkers yearly.
The bridge has faced ongoing closures over the past decade due to safety concerns. It was most recently closed in 2024 after assessments found the decking to be in extremely poor condition, posing a significant risk to public safety. While the council initially pledged swift repairs, progress has been slow, causing frustration among local residents.
In March 2024, villagers protested to demand the walkway’s repair and reopening. By April, a public notice officially announced an extended temporary closure, citing damage from a fallen tree and ongoing work. A prior temporary scaffolding solution installed in 2018 was removed, costing £43,000, along with the deteriorated decking.
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Council estimates reveal that a temporary fix involving new scaffolding could cost approximately £600,000, reflecting the complexity and historic significance of the bridge. While retaining and restoring the existing structure is preferred, the option of constructing a new, more sustainable bridge consistent with the surrounding environment remains under consideration.
During a full council meeting, Reform UK councillor Piers Camp questioned when the bridge would reopen, noting that residents had been told reopening was a top priority for August 2025 with a projected spring 2026 reopening, neither of which materialized. Highways cabinet member Mark Harris responded that the anticipated reopening cost exceeds £3 million, requiring external funding sources.
Harris confirmed that Gloucestershire and Herefordshire councils co-own the bridge and equally share maintenance expenses. Despite the council’s statutory duty to maintain the public right of way, limited budgets — falling short by £15.5 million annually — force prioritization of other pressing safety projects over the bridge’s restoration.
Green Party councillor Sid Phelps, a long-time advocate for reopening the Black Bridge, expressed dismay at the high cost. He urged council leaders to engage with local stakeholders to clarify the cost breakdown and develop a concrete plan for reinstating this vital link in the Wye Valley walkway, rather than leaving it closed indefinitely.
Previously, in 2016, refurbishment costs were estimated to be around £500,000 for works expected to extend the bridge’s lifespan by 50 to 100 years. The dramatic increase to over £3 million underscores the challenges facing the project and leaves the future of the beloved footbridge uncertain.