Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: December 10, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Decision   RESOLVED that Cabinet approved the allocation of £98,000 from Reserves to fund repairs to the footbridges in Aberford Park.   Reasons for decision   Following inspection in September 2025, one of the three footbridges had been closed due to safety concerns. The immediate decking had come loose in places. Inspection of this apparently superficial issue has shown that the bridges were constructed on a steel frame. This frame was solid and did not need repair. The bridge decking and handrails were secured to the steel frame via a hardwood subframe. This subframe had started to rot and needed replacing. Although the remaining two bridges were currently safe, inspection had revealed that all three were constructed at the same time. This request for funding was being brought forward outside of the normal sequence of capital bids to allow works to be commissioned and implemented on all three bridges before Easter 2026, when the park starts to become heavily used.   Officers had received initial quotes for works required resulting in a budget of £98K for the works. Works would involve replacing all timber supports, fitting new deck boards, fixing any loose posts and securing with concrete spurs where necessary and sanding and treating all handrails and spindles.   Alternative Options Considered   Do nothing – this had been discounted as an option as it inevitably would have meant the closure of all three bridges and loss of access to the park from Brook Road. It would also entail the removal of the steel structures, and costs associated with that.   Delay repairs – repairs could be delayed for agreement of the wider capital programme. This had been discounted for the reasons set out in the report i.e. the bridges are a key part of the park and access to it and should be restored at the earliest opportunity and during the colder periods when the park is not as busy. Works could also be phased so the current failed bridge is repaired and further repairs carried out to the remaining two bridges once they fail. This has been discounted as it is more cost efficient to repair all three at the same time and given all three were constructed at the same time they are judged likely to fail inspection at some point in the next 12 months.