Wye Valley bridge closure sparks fear residents are being ‘fobbed off’

Villagers turned out in force on Friday (March 20) to demand the repair and reopening of a much-loved Wye Valley bridge.

The Black Bridge crosses the River Wye and provides a link between Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean with Welsh Bicknor in Herefordshire.

However, the ongoing closure of the former railway viaduct, also known as Stowfield bridge, is a major cause of frustration for residents and tourists alike.

The crossing is a key footbridge on the 136-mile Wye Valley Walk which, when open, is used by over 20,000 walkers.

But the bridge has faced closures over the last ten years with the latest and ongoing closure due to health and safety fears starting in 2024.

And residents are now calling on Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) for a long-term solution to allow the bridge to stay open permanently.

Green Party Councillor Sid Phelps, who represents Lydbrook at the Forest of Dean District Council, has been campaigning for bridge repairs for years.

He fears residents are being “fobbed off again” by the County Council.

“Ten months ago (April 2025) I was told by GCC that they were awaiting an ecological management plan and a habitat regulations assessment and then works could be scheduled,” he said.

“The news of further indeterminate delays are deeply disappointing for local residents and the long-distance walking community.

“I’m starting to get the feeling that we’re all being fobbed off again.

“I would welcome a conversation with GCC on when, if ever, the bridge will eventually re-open.”

Reform UK Councillor Piers Camp, who represents the area at Shire Hall, said the council were meant to have fixed and reopened the bridge by now.

But he said the council told him they cannot do it anymore because the works needed are more than expected.

“When they got to do the repair, they saw it’s more damage than they thought, and it’s going to cost more than they thought,” he said.

“They took it back to the drawing board and right now they are compiling a report for the cabinet.”

Cllr Camp said he had an email suggesting that it could take two months for the report to come into existence.

“They seem unwilling to do the temporary repair now. They are looking to do a full repair.

“I’m guessing that is going to come into the ‘too expensive’ bracket’”.

Cllr Camp said there could be a chance to bid for lottery funding to get the repair done.

The County Council has been approached for comment.