{"id":2538,"date":"2025-09-24T08:35:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T07:35:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=2538"},"modified":"2025-09-25T09:30:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T08:30:07","slug":"who-pays-for-the-failed-timber-footbridges-over-the-jubilee-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=2538","title":{"rendered":"Who pays for the failed timber footbridges over the Jubilee River?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The timber footbridges over a waterway (the Jubilee River) are rotting.\u00a0 Some are unsafe and have been closed.\u00a0 The footbridges need to be replaced but the question is ‘who pays’?<\/p>\n

THE AUTHORITIES NEED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We are fast approaching the 25th Anniversary of the opening of the Jubilee River – the big and expensive flood alleviation channel that was the major element of the Environment Agency’s (EA) Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation Scheme (MWEFAS).\u00a0 The new channel and many structures were severely damaged on first use in 2002\/03 and resulted in an out-of-court settlement for sub-standard design and construction.<\/p>\n

So what are the significant timber footbridge facts:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The National Rivers Authority managed the MWEFAS project prior to 1995\/96<\/li>\n
  2. The EA managed the MWEFAS project from 1995\/96.<\/li>\n
  3. The EA specified and paid for timber footbridges.<\/li>\n
  4. Timber footbridges have a known (and limited) design life.<\/li>\n
  5. The EA transferred the footbridges to the local authorities.<\/li>\n
  6. The timber bridges decayed over time.<\/li>\n
  7. Some timber footbridges are now closed for safety reasons.<\/li>\n
  8. The problem is ‘who pays’? (Actually – we pay for everything eventually)<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Some JR timber footbridge conditions @ 24\/9\/2025:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Berry Hill footbridge (Taplow) over the Jubilee River has been partially replaced at a cost of about \u00a30.5m.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 The bridge is open but the two ends are still timber and will need replacing. (Estimated cost of replacement of two ends – say \u00a30.5m)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    The Southern section of the Ashford Lane footbridge<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (Dorney) has collapsed into the Jubilee River.\u00a0 Removal works are underway.\u00a0 (Estimated cost of replacement – say \u00a31m)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    The Allotments footbridge (Slough)<\/a><\/strong><\/span> over the Jubilee River (just upstream of Slough Weir).\u00a0 Slough Council\u00a0 quote: The Allotment Footbridge, near the roundabout at the southern end of Windsor Road, has been closed for public safety until repair or replacement works are completed on the bridge, which is structurally unstable. There is no timeframe for reopening. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Slough Council Notice of closure.<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 (Estimated cost of replacement – say \u00a31m)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    The Myrke footbridge<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (Eton) over the Jubilee River is still open and probably awaiting inspection.\u00a0 (Estimated cost of replacement – say \u00a31.5m)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    The Black Potts footbridge<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (Datchet) over the Jubilee River is closed.\u00a0 (Estimated cost of replacement – say \u00a31m)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"Black<\/p>\n

    This is the relatively new (steel) footbridge over the Thames<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    END<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The timber footbridges over a waterway (the Jubilee River) are rotting.\u00a0 Some are unsafe and have been closed.\u00a0 The footbridges need to be replaced but the question is ‘who pays’? THE AUTHORITIES…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[232,173,176,38,159,66,177,179],"class_list":["post-2538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-allotments-footbridge","tag-ashford-lane-footbridge","tag-ashford-lane-footbridge-collapse","tag-berry-hill-footbridge","tag-black-potts-footbridge","tag-jubilee-river","tag-the-myrke-footbridge","tag-timber-footbridge-failure"],"yoast_head":"\nWho pays for the failed timber footbridges over the Jubilee River? - DHWNEWS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=2538\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Who pays for the failed timber footbridges over the Jubilee River? - DHWNEWS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The timber footbridges over a waterway (the Jubilee River) are rotting.\u00a0 Some are unsafe and have been closed.\u00a0 The footbridges need to be replaced but the question is ‘who pays’? 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