{"id":4007,"date":"2026-07-10T23:13:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T22:13:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=4007"},"modified":"2026-07-12T07:56:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T06:56:42","slug":"the-timber-footbridge-fiasco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=4007","title":{"rendered":"The timber footbridge fiasco!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Report: CURRENT TIMBER FOOTBRIDGE STRUCTURAL ISSUES.<\/strong>
\nFrom: Ewan Larcombe (Email cllr.larcombe@rbwm.gov.uk)
\nTo: All attendees of the Local Access Forum meeting
\nVenue: Council Chamber – Town Hall – Maidenhead<\/p>\n

Today I am aware of multiple timber footbridge issues affecting the area.\u00a0 I am concerned about sub-standard design, material selection, construction, ownership, inspection, accountability and now the lack of action.<\/strong><\/span> 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:<\/p>\n

\uf0d8 Temple footbridge<\/strong> \u2013 fenced off and unusable \u2013 now partially demolished
\n\uf0d8 Berry Hill footbridge<\/strong> \u2013 partially repaired \u2013 central span replaced in metal (\u00a3450k) – currently usable but no action taken on the two ends.
\n\uf0d8 Ashford Lane footbridge<\/strong> \u2013 south section collapsed and removed, central span now collapsed \u2013 fenced off and unusable. (image below)<\/p>\n

\"\"
\n\uf0d8 Allotments footbridge<\/strong> \u2013 structurally unsound \u2013 fenced off and unusable.
\n\uf0d8 Myrke footbridge<\/strong> \u2013 condition unknown but suspect.
\n\uf0d8 Black Potts footbridge<\/strong> \u2013 fenced off and unusable since June 2025 \u2013 collapse imminent. (image below)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

END<\/p>\n

\n

My estimate for failed timber footbridge removal and replacement costs is as follows: Two @ \u00a32m each and four @ \u00a31m each. Total Cost = \u00a36m spread across three authorities and the Environment Agency.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

To view the Ashford Lane collapsed structure:\u00a0 The remains of the Ashford Lane footbridge can be found over (or in) the Jubilee River near the Pineapple Pub in Dorney.\u00a0 Follow the south bank footpath on foot for approximately 250m upstream (to the west).\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[232,173,176,38,159,99],"class_list":["post-4007","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-temple-footbridge"],"yoast_head":"\nThe timber footbridge fiasco! - 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=4007\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The timber footbridge fiasco! - DHWNEWS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Report: CURRENT TIMBER FOOTBRIDGE STRUCTURAL ISSUES. 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