LOCALS fear “ridiculous” delays to fix a bureaucratic blunder could lead to the loss of a historic footbridge across the river Wye.

The Gloucestershire section of the Black Bridge, which connects Lower Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean with Welsh Bicknor in Herefordshire, is not registered as a public right of way.

The vital link is part of the 136-mile Wye Valley Way and is used every year by more than 20,000 walkers.

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However, Gloucestershire County Council did not register it on the definitive map after the footpath was established in 1981 but the Herefordshire half of the former railway bridge was registered as a public right of way by Herefordshire Council.

This oversight came to light when Gloucestershire County Council agreed to temporary repairs to reopen the bridge after a lottery grant bid for more permanent repairs was rejected in 2018.

The view of the River Wye looking upstream from Black Bridge in Lydbrook. Picture: Carmelo Garcia/LDRS

The view of the River Wye looking upstream from Black Bridge in Lydbrook. Picture: Carmelo Garcia/LDRS

While the bridge is currently open, many residents fear the lack of legal protection puts the route at risk of closure.

Lydbrook Parish Council vice-chairman Sharon Norris said the situation is “absolutely ridiculous”.

“We’ve been fighting for this for years now to get it restored. It’s part of our heritage and it’s just ridiculous we haven’t got the footpath sorted.

“Lots of locals use this bridge on a regular basis and we don’t want to lose it. It gives us access to all the other footpaths.”

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And Maurice Phelps fears the possibility of losing the footpath there the longer the delays go on.

His son Sid Phelps is the councillor who represents Lydbrook at Forest of Dean District Council.

He says people just want certainty over when the footbridge will be registered as a public right of way.

He said: “I would just like to know when the formalisation of the footpath is finally going to happen.

“Can we have a date please? We’ve been waiting four years and wonder if it will ever happen.”

Parish councillor Colin Gibbons says the footbridge is vitally important to the local economy.

Black Bridge crosses from Gloucestershire to Herefordshire and the structure is jointly owned by the council either side of the river. Picture: Carmelo Garcia/LDRS

Black Bridge crosses from Gloucestershire to Herefordshire and the structure is jointly owned by the council either side of the river. Picture: Carmelo Garcia/LDRS

“If this closed it would take money out of the Forest and Lydbrook,” he said.

“The walkway would come to a halt and all that income is gone. Places rely on trade. Not only the people but the campers as well. The shops are the ones that would lose out.”

Councillor Terry Hale, who represents the Drybrook and Lydbrook division at Gloucestershire County Council, says the footbridge is too important to lose.

He too has complained about the delays in getting the footbridge registered.

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“It’s important to the community but we’ve been brushed off,” he said.

“All the stuff which was going to drop off and hurt somebody has been taken away and scaffolding was put up as a walkway.

“This will always stay open because it’s part of the Wye Valley walk. It’s a link that has got to be maintained. This is too much of a heritage bridge to lose.

“I was promised it last year and then the next thing I hear is that the wire bridge at Tintern and the other one was going to be done before this one which I’ve complained about.”

Gloucestershire County Council has been approached for comment but none was provided at the time of going to press.