Preliminary work for constructing a replacement foot crossing is set to take place after a council controversially closed a bridge at a town's popular walking spot.

Suffolk County Council blocked off White Bridge at Millennium Green in Halesworth due to it being unsafe over a year ago.

To prevent access to the bridge the council put up a controversial fence, which triggered more than 50 regular walkers of the route to stage a protest.

The county council has now said some tree clearance work around the existing bridge will be undertaken soon, ahead of the bird nesting season.

It is hoped the main replacement bridge works will start later in the year. 

Eastern Daily Press: Protestors at White Bridge in HalesworthProtestors at White Bridge in Halesworth (Image: Denise Bradley)

A Suffolk County Council spokeswoman: "Bridge replacement options have been prepared and ground investigations are being completed this week to confirm the foundation requirements.

"Once the results have been received, the options and costs will be considered and finalised.

"We will then continue with the design and consent from the Environment Agency before construction can commence.

"We are unable to provide timescales at this stage however it is hoped that the bridge replacement will be completed this year."

Eastern Daily Press: People at the protest called the bridge monstrousPeople at the protest called the bridge monstrous (Image: Denise Bradley)

Before the 10-foot fence was put up, access across White Bridge from the cycle path in Halesworth to the Folly on the Holton side had been closed since August 2022.

READ MORE: Anger over 'monstrous' Halesworth fence after bridge closed

It had bollards that people could squeeze through.

Eastern Daily Press: The fence blocks people from accessing the bridge which connects the Folly and Millennium GreenThe fence blocks people from accessing the bridge which connects the Folly and Millennium Green (Image: Denise Bradley)

The council said the bollards had failed to deter people from crossing the unsafe bridge and they had been vandalised

Workers spent two days installing the 10-foot high steel fence which caused outcry in the community.

The size and nature of the metal fence and the bridge closure provoked anger among dog walkers and others who use the route with many calling it "monstrous".

Eastern Daily Press: The mob of protestors at White Bridge in HalesworthThe mob of protestors at White Bridge in Halesworth (Image: Denise Bradley)