8:10pm Friday 19th March 2010
By Tarik Al Rasheed
THE ornate wooden bridge over the pool in Malvern’s Priory Park is set to be replaced after conservation officers ruled the existing structure beyond repair.
Following consultations, Malvern Hills District Council has been informed that the bridge is “beyond economical repair”, and plans for a replacement are now underway.
The timber superstructure, which dates back to the 1920s, will be removed and then re-built using oak that carefully matches the existing construction.
Councillor Ralph Madden, who is responsible for finance and resources at MHDC, said: “In line with conservation policy, traditional construction methods will be used to build the new structure, using mortice and tenon joints.
“A non-slip coating will be applied to the slat decking for safety reasons.
“We will be rebuilding the bridge with great care to ensure the original character is preserved.”
The replacement structure will be built in-situ and work is expected to start later this month, taking about 10 weeks to complete.
Alternative routes through the park will be signposted while work takes place.
Although the superstructure is being replaced, a structural survey of the bridge has revealed that the stone pillars and the steel supports of the bridge are in good condition, apart from one rusty cross-member that needs replacing.
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