PROPOSALS for a new pedestrian bridge, over the River Avon, linking Hampton and Evesham town centre have been green lit following unanimous committee support for the project.
Worcestershire County Council’s planning and regulatory committee voted in favour of the proposals on Tuesday, March 19.
The plans aim to provide a walking and cycling alternative, hoping to alleviate congestion and promote greener transport.
Hampton Bridge will have an elevated causeway leading to the bridge from the eastern bank of the River Avon connected by new footpaths and an embankment to Abbey Road.
And, on the western bank, new shared use and pedestrian footpaths will be created alongside existing roads with a path connected to the bridge itself.
The bridge, which will be created in weathering steel with a rust like appearance, will also be accessible via staircases from footpaths north and west of the site. It will have two hands rails along the bridge and ramps at 1m and 1.4m high.
Lighting will have a warm colour temperature and be dimmed by 30 per cent between 10pm and 5.30am. A total of 15 trees will be need to be removed to carry out the development, with 63 replacement trees expected to be planted.
It will not, according to plans, have an adverse impact on flood risks in the area and is expected to be usable despite flooding.
Following an extensive pre-planning public engagement exercise in late 2021, initial works are due to be underway later this year with most of the development taking place in 2025/26.
Despite unanimous support from the county council’s planning committee, many residents have appeared less than excited about the Hampton Bridge on social media.
Various residents, in both Evesham and Hampton, have raised concerns around the potential costs of the bridge with some referring to it as a ‘waste of money.
These concerns over finances were echoed by Worcestershire County Councillor, Martin Allen, who urged the developers to ‘keep a handle on the costs’, while ultimately supporting the application.
Residents also questioned whether the bridge would realistically alleviate congestion or whether the money would be better spent on road infrastructure instead.
Coun Lisa Robinson, proposer for the development, disagrees and feels the bridge will ‘encourage people to get out of their cars and create a sustainable travel corridor, improving health and wellbeing and reducing carbon footprints.’
According to a feasibility survey, approximately 1,100 pedestrians will use the bridge daily.
