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Enhancing Lucy’s Mill Footbridge: A Community Initiative

Explore the history, characteristics, and usage of Lucy’s Mill Footbridge. Learn about alternative crossing points, proposed feasibility study, and next steps for improvement. Share your thoughts and priorities on enhancing this iconic bridge.

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Enhancing Lucy’s Mill Footbridge: A Community Initiative

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  1. Lucy’s Mill Footbridge: Can We Improve It?

  2. Outline of Presentation • Historical background -- 1590 to 1934 • 20th Century replacement bridge • Footbridge characteristics • Footbridge usage • Alternative crossing points • The way forward • Proposed feasibility study • Next steps • Most important -- what do you think and what are your priorities?

  3. Historical Background • Wooden footbridge with six piers originally built in 1590, paid for by voluntary donations • Adopted by Corporation in 1618 which became responsible for upkeep • Extensive repairs in 1812 and 1827, plus passage widened for barges • Floods in 1867 destroyed 2 piers and bridge had to be completely re-built

  4. 1867 Floods Destroyed 2 of the Piers

  5. 1867 Bridge Completely Re-built

  6. The Bridge in 1907

  7. 20th Century Replacement • In 1934 the rather handsome wooden bridge was replaced by the current reinforced concrete bridge • Designed in Art Deco style to match Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened in 1932 • Reinforced concrete fashionable in the 1930s • However, bridge now nearly 80 years old and showing its age • Have reached the stage where some form of upgrading or replacement is desirable

  8. Bridge in 2008: Familiar Sight

  9. Footbridge Characteristics • Access to current bridge is by way of steep, narrow steps at either end • This causes potentially dangerous conflicts when users going in opposite directions attempt to pass each other on the steps • Bridge width and parapet height are considered sub-standard • Unsuitable link into National Cycle Network

  10. Footbridge Usage • Usage studied in 2009 over 2-day period • Saturday 8.00 to 19.30 -- 1,128 crossed the bridge • Wednesday 8.00 to 16.30 -- 525 crossed the bridge • Users included: • 258 cyclists (carrying cycles) • 49 baby pushchairs (lifted over bridge) • 8 wheelchairs lifted across bridge • 31 users used walking sticks or other mobility aids • 927 people surveyed (out of 1,653 total) signed petition asking for bridge to be improved/replaced

  11. Potentially Dangerous Incidents

  12. Alternative Crossing Points • Seven Meadows Road bridge has no facilities for pedestrians (e.g., footpaths) • Main pedestrian river crossing is Tramway Bridge alongside Clopton Bridge • Also a Chain Ferry near RST which carries about 50-100 passengers per day on weekdays and 250-300 on weekends • No other suitable crossing points within easy reach

  13. The Town’s Chain Ferry

  14. The Way Forward • Initial consultant report by Sustrans (charity encouraging walking & cycling) thinks bridge could be adapted to make it suitable for all users • Ramps and other civil works must fit within land & right-of-way currently owned by WCC & SDC • Compulsory purchase of additional land close to bridge is neither desirable nor feasible • Way forward could be to commission full feasibility study to test whether current bridge can be made fully compliant with current building standards on footprint of land owned by WCC & SDC

  15. Proposed Feasibility Study • Land ownership boundary has already been established • Feasibility study needs to answer two questions: • Can existing bridge be adapted/modified to meet current building standards within the foot print of land currently owned by WCC/SDC? • If not, could a new fully compliant bridge be constructed on the same site within the same footprint of land? • The upgraded/new footbridge must be able to accommodate cyclists & form part of the town’s existing network of walking/cycling routes

  16. Next Steps • Establish whether there is widespread support for improving the footbridge • If yes, form an association – Friends of Lucy’s Mill Bridge – which can approve a constitution • Elect a committee to manage FoLMB • Apply for charity status, open a bank account and raise funds to pay for the feasibility study

  17. What do you think and what are your Priorities?? • Do you support improving the footbridge? • Should we set up an organisation – Friends of Lucy’s Mill Bridge – to try and achieve this? • Do you approve/have views on the draft constitution (copies available)? • Would you be willing to join FoLMB? • Are you willing to help with fund raising?

  18. Credits • Old photographs courtesy of the Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive • Survey and photographs of current usage courtesy of Stratford Voice • Chain Ferry figures courtesy of the Chain Ferry operator

  19. Questions of clarification or general comments

  20. Do you support improving the footbridge?

  21. Should we form FoLMB?

  22. Do you accept/have views on the draft constitution?

  23. Are you willing to join FoLMB?

  24. Are you willing to be invited to join the Management Committee?

  25. Should we go ahead and fund raise for a feasibility study?

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