Issue - meetings

The Environmental Services Manager presented a report on the subject of the future of the brick arched former railway bridge at Green Lane, Studley.  The bridge had been the subject of a number of previous reports considered by the Executive Committee.  Warwickshire County Council had since completed a survey of the site and had suggested that there needed to be further, regular inspections in future.  Based on the proposed way forward, which would involve retaining the structure for the future, the capital funding required to manage the bridge had reduced in amount and the Council could update the capital programme accordingly.  The remaining funding for the bridge would be used to fund any works proposed during future inspections that would be undertaken by Warwickshire County Council.

Following the presentation of the report, the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services commented that the Council had owned the bridge since 1985.  The bridge had recently been offered for sale to a number of local authorities but there had been no interest in the purchase.  Consideration had also been given to applying for planning permission to remove the bridge, but ultimately this option had not been pursued.  The bridge was located on National Cycle Route 5 and would remain available for the public to use.  Whilst the Council would remain financially liable for the upkeep of the bridge, the proposed way forward would result in some savings for the authority.

RECOMMENDED that

1)          the 2023/24 Capital Programme be reduced by £113,000 to provide a total budget of £80,000, for undertaking remedial works to the bridge structure as highlighted by the Principal Inspection; and

2)          A budget of £5,000 for Warwickshire County Council to undertake Principal Inspections on a six-year cycle commencing 2029/30, and a General Inspection on a two-year cycle, commencing 2025/26, be included in the Medium-Term Financial Plan for future years, as shown below.