It has stood for more than six centuries and adorned countless postcards, but Potter Heigham bridge now faces a very uncertain future. GEORGE THOMPSON reports on a Norfolk landmark under threat
When a hole the size of a large wellington boot appeared on the surface of Potter Heigham bridge one day in December, there seemed little cause for concern.
The road was closed while repair work was scheduled and officials said it would be reopened within a month.
After further investigation, however, that optimistic outlook has been swiftly revised.
The structural problems with the bridge, and the challenge of repairing them, appear more serious than first thought.
Now, it is not due to open to road traffic until at least April, with some wondering whether it should ever reopen again.
Among them is Paul Rice, chairman of the Broads Society.
"I think the bridge should be pedestrianised," he said.
"I think it's the right time. This is the opportunity to do it."
While officials from National Highways and English Heritage try to get to grips with precisely what work is needed on the bridge, and whether it is feasible, some aspects of the issue are already clear.
There is already another bridge to take road traffic across the River Thurne without the need for a significant diversion.
The A149 crosses on a more modern structure - originally built for a railway - around 100 metres upstream.
So it would seem possible to close the medieval crossing to cars and lorries without creating immense disruption to motorists.
But what would locals and businesses in Potter Heigham think of the idea of closing the bridge?
Mr Rice said there seemed to be some enthusiasm for the proposal.
“I’ve been watching the Norfolk Broads [online] forums and there are an awful lot of locals who would like to see the bridge pedestrianised. That includes businesses as well."
The bridge - much cherished as it is - throws up issues not just for motorists but for boaters too.
It is by far the smallest bridge on the Broads and many craft are too big to pass beneath it and head up towards Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere.
While this means that the waterways of the Upper Thurne are more tranquil than elsewhere, it is a source of frustration to many boaters that they cannot access them.
There are also suggestions that the small bridge may contribute to flooding, by restricting the flow of water, and also have an impact on concentrations of salt water in the Broads, which can be fatal to fish.
The area next to the bridge is notorious for high numbers of fish deaths, when certain tide and weather conditions cause salt water to surge into the waterways from the sea.
Mr Rice, who is also the founder of the Broads River Watch, said there were even far-fetched suggestions from some online that Potter bridge should be dismantled and rebuilt elsewhere, to free up the flow of water - and boats.
“I get the idea, but that’s never going to happen," he said. "It’s a scheduled ancient monument."
Some restrictions on road use, however, seem far more likely, Mr Rice believes.
“If you were to ask local people and businesses, they would favour that the bridge gets shut to vehicle traffic or restricted to just cars.”
The bridge was built centuries before the birth of the motor car and modern vehicles were becoming increasingly heavy, he said.
Locals say the bridge appears to have sunk significantly on one side over the last 50 years.
Mr Rice said there were a few theories for why this was the case - one is the impact of increasingly high tides, another is the long-term impact of a lorry which drove over the side of the bridge around five decades ago.
There are local concerns that closing the bridge could worsen traffic elsewhere in the village, but Mr Rice proposed using cash saved by not repairing the structure for cars to go towards road calming measures nearby.
Richard Price, county councillor for Potter Heigham, said he thought the community would agree with Mr Rice’s call for the bridge to be pedestrianised.
“We are waiting for the tests to come back to see what the situation is,” he said.
“Then it is up to the highway, county council bridge experts and English Heritage.
“The bridge dates back to 1385 and that must be respected.
“The feedback I’m getting from the public is that the bridge has a weight limit and a speed limit but there aren’t the resources to enforce it.
"Inevitably cases of abuse will have an impact on the bridge.”
While he said he was not qualified to make a final decision, his personal feeling was that pedestrianisation may be the best outcome.
The councillor also felt that when a decision was due locals should be consulted on any plan, but warned it could be sometime before that happens.
"It’s too important an asset to lose just for convenience," he added.
"I’m sure some boat owners would welcome the bridge going. It’s not an easy bridge to get under but that is one of the attractions of it. It must stay.”
A NORFOLK LANDMARK
The bridge, along with St Benet's Abbey, is one of the most recognisable landmarks on the Norfolk Broads and adorns countless postcards.
It crosses the River Thurne, which divides the parishes of Potter Heigham and Repps with Bastwick.
Each summer it is a popular spot to watch the Three Rivers Race, as sailors 'shoot' the bridge - lowering their sails and masts to pass below without stopping.
The structure is also said to be haunted by a coach which crashed or caught alight as it passed across one night in 1742, taking local noblewoman Lady Evelyn to her death on her wedding night.
According to local legend, the clatter of a carriage thundering past can be heard at midnight each May 31.
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