Bridge will link meadows and castle

From the archive, first published Tuesday 9th Jan 2007.

Wallingford is set to get a new £54,000 footbridge linking Castle Meadows and the ruins of the castle with the town-council owned Castle Gardens.

South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet is expected to vote to fund it at its meeting on Thursday.

The pedestrian link was part of the management plan for the Castle Meadows which are owned by the district council.

The bridge will be in Castle Lane and provide a safe and direct link into Wallingford, reuniting two parts of the castle site which at the moment are separated by Bear Lane.

District council countryside officer Dominic Lamb said: "Public support for the project is strong - research conducted as part of the development of the meadows has consistently indicated a need for a link.

"Once complete, it will provide benefits to the people of Wallingford and many visitors to the town."

An idea to use an existing bridge was dismissed because it has steps on both sides, which would not comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, and it goes right into the castle moat which is often flooded.

The new bridge will help towards the district council getting a coveted 'Green Flag' tourism award for the castle meadows.

English Heritage has given the plans its approval.