{"id":2051,"date":"2025-07-06T07:37:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T06:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=2051"},"modified":"2025-07-07T11:28:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T10:28:54","slug":"ashford-lane-footbridge-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=2051","title":{"rendered":"Ashford Lane footbridge inspection reports"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who is going to be accountable for this costly fiasco? It is not only the money – but also the reputational harm being distributed across multiple responsible authorities.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is an image of the partially collapsed timber footbridge at Ashford Lane, Dorney, Bucks in June 2025.<\/p>\n

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Dorney Parish Council has published a (critical and demanding) status report dated June 2025<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You will find a detailed (prior to the collapse) Ashford Lane footbridge 74 page inspection report\u00a0 by Bridge Station and dated June 2024<\/span><\/strong> here<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The Ashford Lane Footbridge 90 page report by Atkins (prior to the collapse and incorporating the Bridge Station report) is here<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

My view is that the visual inspections become less effective over time – to a point where they are inadequate (to be honest – actually totally useless in the specific areas where there is advanced internal rot lacking external visual indicators).\u00a0 There is a need for the use of readily available NDT (non-destructive testing) equipment and techniques.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You have only to look at the image below to see how internal rot was apparently overlooked during the inspection process.\u00a0 The combination of questionable design and construction leading to loss of strength has been exacerbated by advanced rot at a vulnerable and critical position.\u00a0 The vertical post and the diagonal brace are totally disconnected and displaced both longitudinally and laterally from the main beam.<\/p>\n

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Image below – rotten to the core?<\/p>\n

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I put the question to my mate Claude AI as follows: Our 20 year old timber footbridge over the river collapsed. Visual inspections failed to reveal significant rot in critical areas. What non destructive testing equipment is available for use when inspecting timber please?<\/p>\n

Claude says the following:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Several non-destructive testing (NDT) methods are available for inspecting timber structures, particularly useful for detecting internal defects that visual inspection can miss:<\/p>\n

Resistance Drilling\/Drilling Resistance<\/strong><\/p>\n