White Bridge replacement work in Halesworth has begun

Announced by Halesworth Millennium Green on Facebook, work on the White Bridge in Halesworth has begun.

White Bridge closed in August 2022 after structural engineers at Suffolk County Council deemed it unsafe.

The council said it would then replace the crossing.

Contractors are now on site and will be working on the green over the next ten weeks.

The first stage will be strimming the banks of the New Reach to encourage water voles to move, and the second stage will be to the build a stone riffle within in the channel to keep water levels the same.

The notice said: “The riffle will generally be a wildlife and amenity feature.”

The final stage is: “demolition and removal of the old and … bring in the new”.

The bridge was closed and access was blocked by a large metal fence (Image: Denise Bradley)READ MORE: White Bridge in Halesworth to be replaced in September

When the bridge closed a row then erupted over a “monstrous” fence that was installed when the site was cordoned off.

The route was originally shut with plastic barriers which dog walkers and other users ignored.

As a result, the council erected a ten-foot metal fence to prevent people from walking across.

In March last year, more than 50 regular walkers of the route turned out with placards to protest the metal fence.

Pat Jones, front, who called people together to protest at the metal fence and closure of the White Bridge at Millennium Green last year. (Image: Denise Bradley)

The fence took two days to install (Image: Denise Bradley)READ MORE: Anger over 'monstrous' Halesworth fence after bridge closed

Pat Jones, one of the protesters at the demonstration, had said: "In such a beautiful area the fence they have put up to stop access to the bridge is just monstrous.”

At the time, a spokesperson for Suffolk County Council said: “We understand the community’s frustration with this closure.

“We have had to add in reinforced fencing as the original closure barrier was being vandalised."

With the contactors on site, the lastest announcement said: “Remember the difficulties since closure are nothing to do with them".

A spokesperson for the Halesworth Millennium Green trust said: "The last two years have been very trying for users of the Green who have had to find other routes, and for the volunteers who have had to spend much time and effort moving machinery to where needed." 

"We are especially pleased and relieved that after support from our local County Councillor Annette Dunning and following robust representations by local people, Suffolk County Council did take on board how much this open space is loved and used and how necessary the bridge is.

"By Christmas this saga should be behind us and a new bridge in place."