WORCESTER City Council was battling at this time half-a-century ago with the problem of two "unsafe structures," both prominent features of the townscape which were close to collapse

The Journal of 1953 explained: "Sidbury Bridge may soon have to be closed to heavy traffic because it is unsafe. This bridge taking the A38 over the canal has been under discussion between the council and the Ministry of Transport since the war-time days when many heavy loads were passing over it, and temporary measures were taken to strengthen the arch.

"However, these measures have become progressively less effective and when a load of 173 tons was taken over the bridge in July 1951, the movement of the arch was somewhat alarming. In the 10 months before that, nine loads of more than 100 tons had gone over the bridge. A scheme by the City Engineer to remedy the danger would involve building a new road from the junction of King Street and Sidbury to the Sidbury side of the Bath Road Garage. The project was approved in principle by the Ministry in 1951 but the go ahead has been held up by 'economic stringency'. The scheme is estimated to cost £75,000.

"The other unsafe structure is the tower which supports the historic clock on the City Market Hall in High Street, opposite the Guildhall. The tower walls have had to be shored up and a scaffolding erected to support the clock. This impressive time-piece was recently put back in place after overhaul and repair, but no hint was given at the time that the support structure was unsafe. However, a cornice has since fallen down revealing extensive damage caused by dry rot and woodworm.

"The question now facing the council is whether to spend many thousands of pounds to repair the clock tower bearing in mind that the Market Hall is due to disappear in the not too distant future under the city's long-term development plan."

As we know with the benefit of hindsight, both the new Sidbury Bridge scheme and the demolition of the City Market Hall went ahead only a few years later.