WARNING – In my opinion Black Potts footbridge in Datchet is rotten, steadily sagging and dangerous. This footpath should be both officially and effectively closed before it collapses. My advice is to keep off the Black Potts footbridge. Ashford Lane footbridge in Dorney has already collapsed into the Jubilee River.
Black Potts footbridge is a timber footbridge over the Jubilee River between Datchet and Eton. The footbridge is about 25 years old and was constructed by the Environment Agency as part of the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation Scheme. The timber is rotten, sagging and on the verge of collapse. Black Potts footbridge is closed, extremely dangerous and about to collapse in the same way as the Ashford Lane, Dorney footbridge (about two miles upstream) did in June 2025.
The image below is dated 10-7-2025. This barrier is ineffective and RBWM has been informed.
The lower beam is severely cracked at the second node to the left of the support column.
This is the close-up view – I can confirm that you can see right through the beam.
You have been warned.
The image below shows how the collapsed Ashford Lane footbridge has been securely barriered off with associated signage.
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