North Yorkshire Council has confirmed a historic bridge in a Harrogate village has been damaged — just days after it reopened.
Grade two-listed Hampsthwaite Bridge, which was initially constructed in 1598, closed suddenly on June 2 for £60,000 repairs.
it reopened on September 7 but concerns were raised when a photo appeared on social media of a large JCB crossing the bridge.
Phil Richardson, the council’s bridges manager, said today:
“One of the parapets on Hampsthwaite Bridge has been damaged and we are currently considering what action needs to be taken.
“We will be carrying out a thorough inspection of the bridge and will update the public as soon as possible.”
The council’s inspection confirms the findings of local resident and retired engineer Martin Weston, who checked the bridge after reading concerns about the JCB crossing.
Mr Weston told the Stray Ferret the parapet walls had been pushed out and loosened over a six-metre section.
He reported his findings to Hampsthwaite Parish Council, which forwarded them on to North Yorkshire Council, which is the highways authority.
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Harrogate bridge may be closed again after ‘astonishing’ crossing
There are fears a Harrogate village bridge may have to close for repairs again — little more than a week after it reopened.
Hampsthwaite Bridge closed suddenly on June 2 for repairs estimated to cost £60,000
it reopened on September 7 but within days one of the parapets has been damaged.
Local resident and retired engineer Martin Weston, who uses the bridge daily, inspected it after seeing a photo on social media of a large agricultural vehicle crossing the bridge and reading comments by concerned locals.
Mr Weston told the Stray Ferret::
“I have inspected the bridge for damage and it showed that the parapet walls have been pushed out and loosened again over a six-metre section and it looks likely that we will face another closure when repairs need to be carried out.
“I have reported the issue to Geoff Howard from Hampsthwaite Parish Council, who I met at the bridge.
“The damage does not appear to be as severe as the previous incident and hopefully subject to the authority inspection team appraising it, it will be kept open at least until repairs are carried out.”
The vehicles squeezes over.
Cllr Howard said the recent closure caused considerable inconvenience and signs clearly showed a maximum width of 6ft 6ins for crossing vehicles.
He added:
“It is astonishing therefore to see the JCB being driven over recently.
“And it is recent because, as can clearly be seen on site, one of the joints broken by the upstream parapet having been pushed out, was pointed with a new mix of unweathered mortar.”
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The historic bridge, on Church Lane, crosses the River Nidd and joins Hampsthwaite and Clint.
Cllr Howard said he’d reported the incident to the parish council and highways authority North Yorkshire Council “and suggested someone in authority needs to have a word with the contractor”.
He added the entire parapet between two refuges had been nudged over by 10mm to 20mm and ought to be inspected by the council.
Cllr Howard said:
“The real issue is that some folk should be so unthinking as to even attempt such a crossing after all the disruption and cost the previous damage caused.”