Yet another delay to the restoration of Whorlton Bridge has left long-suffering villagers angry and frustrated.
Work on the historic suspension bridge over the Tees has been impacted by an unspecified hold-up.
The Mercury understands the problem is related to potential conservation issues requiring approval from Historic England.
Durham County Council, which has overall responsibility for the bridge, insists the project will be complete by “summer 2026”, while Historic England claim work is continuing “as planned”.
Last year, work stopped when bats were discovered in the toll house next to the bridge. And people living in Whorlton and the surrounding farms and hamlets have been left frustrated at the latest delay in restoring a crucial community road link.
The bridge, which was opened almost 200 years ago, was closed to traffic in 2019 and to pedestrians a year later.
After six long years of waiting, patience is running thin and Whorlton parish councillor George Stastny said: “Work on the bridge seems to have come to a standstill, I believe there are problems with the conservation people.
“It is quite ridiculous that we are being held up by some bureaucrats, the bridge has now been closed for over five years and it’s adversely affecting our lives.”
Speaking to the Mercury, Durham County Council’s strategic highways manager Paul Anderson said: “We are liaising with a number of stakeholders including Historic England to ensure the historical importance of the bridge is given appropriate consideration at every stage of the work to reopen it.
“We are still committed to the bridge’s restoration and our current plan is that it will be re-erected later this year, with the overall project to be complete by summer 2026.”
A Historic England spokesman added: “Historic England has worked closely with Durham County Council to ensure that the repairs and conservation works are sympathetic to the significance of the bridge and yet still ensures that it can re-open as a usable highways bridge.
“It is our understanding that work is progressing as planned.”
