A motorist who was arrested after causing £50,000 worth of damage after reportedly ignoring a road closure and crashing into a town bridge will face no further action.
Newerne Street Bridge, in the centre of Lydney, sustained significant damage in the crash which happened early last December and a person was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol with serious injuries.
The bridge had been fully closed from November 24 after Storm Bert until January, when it reopened under temporary traffic lights.
It reopened fully in June and Gloucestershire Highways’ repairs to the bridge are complete.
And the repair costs are being recovered from the driver’s insurer.
Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed this week that a man in his 20s from the Severnside town was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving at the time.
He was subsequently de-arrested and, following further enquiries, no further action is being taken.
This news has been met with disappointment by former Gloucestershire County Council chairman Alan Preest.
The Forest of Dean District Councillor for Lydney East said he was “extremely disappointed and amazed that no action was to be taken against the individual who struck and badly damaged the Newerne Street Bridge with his vehicle early December last year”.
“Equally appalled and shocked were a large number of local residents who I have subsequently spoken to,” the Reform UK councillor said.
“It goes without saying that the event, and the road closure caused a great deal of economic and social damage to the local community.
“As time progressed from last December the silence around the circumstances from the authorities was deafening and it has come as no real surprise that no action is now the course of action.
“However, I fundamentally and firmly believe that a definitive statement regarding this incident is issued by the police and/or the Crown Prosecution Service as to why no action is being taken, the message of no action sent out is not in any way good.
“Notwithstanding, at the time of the incident, that the Newerne Street Bridge was closed following damage caused some days earlier by Storm Bert, the road is covered by a 20mph speed zone, it was quite apparent that the vehicle was travelling quicker than 19mph!”
