Report: CURRENT TIMBER FOOTBRIDGE STRUCTURAL ISSUES.
From: Ewan Larcombe (Email cllr.larcombe@rbwm.gov.uk)
To: All attendees of the Local Access Forum meeting
Venue: Council Chamber – Town Hall – Maidenhead
Today I am aware of multiple timber footbridge issues affecting the area. I am concerned about sub-standard design, material selection, construction, ownership, inspection, accountability and now the lack of action. These are not isolated incidents of timber footbridge structural failure and I suspect that there are others. I believe the current position is as follows:
Temple footbridge – fenced off and unusable – now partially demolished
Berry Hill footbridge – partially repaired – central span replaced in metal (£450k) – currently usable but no action taken on the two ends.
Ashford Lane footbridge – south section collapsed and removed, central span now collapsed – fenced off and unusable. (image below)
Allotments footbridge – structurally unsound – fenced off and unusable.
Myrke footbridge – condition unknown but suspect.
Black Potts footbridge – fenced off and unusable since June 2025 – collapse imminent. (image below)
END
My estimate for failed timber footbridge removal and replacement costs is as follows: Two @ £2m each and four @ £1m each. Total Cost = £6m spread across three authorities and the Environment Agency.
To view the Ashford Lane collapsed structure: The remains of the Ashford Lane footbridge can be found over (or in) the Jubilee River near the Pineapple Pub in Dorney. Follow the south bank footpath on foot for approximately 250m upstream (to the west). The access to the footbridge has been fenced off – but just walk another 100m upstream and look downstream from the bank of the Jubilee River for the best views.