Ancient and Modern in Harmony

The plans for the demolition and replacement of Church Road bridge were first discussed about 3 years ago soon after the weight limit had been reduced due to the corrosion of the steel reinforcements under the bridge deck.

Cllrs Pat and Dave Hockey insisted right from the start that when the parapets were taken down the stones must be stored and reused to rebuild them.

The Frampton Cotterell councillors said, "We know how strongly local residents feel about loss of local pennant stone walls and the need to retain them. When we consulted widely across Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath to enable the Village Design Statement to be put together, it was clear that residents treasure the local cottages, houses, schools, hat factories and boundary walls that are built using local stone."

"We are delighted that the new, high tech composite bridge deck will be enclosed between parapets rebuilt with the original local stone. When work on the bridge is completed later this year it will look the same as it did before the bridge was demolished. This is especially important as the bridge is close to the Grade 2* listed Saint Peters Church.”

The photo shows Lee Hodge from Streetcare working on the reconstruction of one of the stone parapets on Church Road bridge.