Historic Martins Road bridge at Brockenhurst faces removal by Forestry England

A STAY of execution for a historic Forest bridge, saved in 2021 after a village outcry, looks over as new plans to remove it have been revealed.

The structure, near Martins Road in Brockenhurst, has been in use for at least 130 years, and Forestry England says it is no longer safe.

Its removal was first mooted four years ago, when parish councillors and residents stepped in, protesting to FE and Hampshire County Council. HCC said the decision over the removal of the bridge would be delayed "given the depth of feeling".

Now that delay appears over.

In an email sent to a village resident, seen by the A&T, Forestry England explained the bridge would be removed this year saying it is “not fit for purpose and does not meet current safety standards for people or livestock”.

It says the bridge will cost around £45,000 to repair and although it has approached Hampshire County Council for help towards funding repairs, the council has refused saying it does not “accept liability for it”.

As a result FE will “close off the footbridge at the earliest opportunity” and will remove it in late spring or summer.

In the email it states that it appreciates “that this bridge is popular with some of the local community, however, as the landowner, we may be liable for any harm to those using the bridge and in its current state there are potential hazards to Forest users.”

An angry Brockenhurst resident has now attached signs to the bridge announcing its closure and has urged those who want to protest about the decision to contact FE.

Villager Graham Otter is among residents furious about the bridge’s removal. He said: “It has been here forever and its been an important piece of village life for hundreds of years.”

“It is mainly used by locals as it is quite hidden so tourists wouldn’t really know about it, so it’s a nice quiet spot for villagers to use to go for a walk in the open Forest or take their dogs there.”

An engineering survey was carried out on the bridge around five years ago and, according to Mr Otter, residents believed it would eventually be repaired – once the FE and HCC came to an agreement about funding.

But he said: “The last we heard the parish council were also looking into taking responsibility of it but a few weeks ago rumours started that the bridge was actually going to be removed, which came as a shock to everyone.

“We have been waiting for years for the work to be done. I don’t know where they have got this figure of £45,000 from. It is such a small bridge, I can’t see why it would cost that much.

“One resident said if it is removed, he will chuck a couple of planks across the stream to create a new one.

“What angers me, and others, is the fact that FE says it is on “their land” but they only manage the land, it is the public’s land.”

Fellow Brockenhurst resident Karl Jones said he is also angry about the removal saying: “I have used that bridge for over 40 years.

“I used it as a child like hundreds of others have over the years; to go and play in the Forest and I continue to use it.

“There is another bridge further round the Forest, but Martin’s Road bridge is just a huge part of village life. It has been there for so long; it would be awful to see it gone.”

According to an Ordnance Survey map the bridge has existed since at least 1895. Forestry England has previously said there are no records to show who built it.

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council, said: “Martin’s Road footbridge is entirely situated within Forestry England land, outside the highway boundary, and not on a recorded Hampshire County Council public right of way. Therefore, decisions regarding the footbridge rest with Forestry England.”

A spokesperson for the FE said: “This bridge has been inspected and maintained over the years by Hampshire County Council. It is currently closed as it is unsafe to use.

“There is another bridge close by at Meerut Road managed by Forestry England. We are talking to all parties involved about its future. Rebuilding the bridge to a suitable standard would cost around £45,000 which is unsustainable.”

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