Campaigners fighting against plans to demolish a city footbridge have urged the council to reverse its decision and protect the “iconic landmark”. 

Leazes Footbridge in Durham City was closed last July after a routine inspection by Durham County Council identified structural issues. On February 5, the council confirmed that the bridge’s defects cannot be repaired and the bridge will be demolished before the summer.

Debbie Hills has a front seat view of the footbridge, as her house on Gilesgate is passed by thousands of people a day walking into and out of the city centre. She has lived there since 2019 and has become accustomed with how dangerous crossing the A690 is for pedestrians without the bridge. 

After an initial temporary closure notice was erected in August last year another one was posted on February 1. It included a line from the council that said the bridge would be closed “to enable footbridge repair works to be undertaken.” But just four days later the council announced it would be demolished.

“It was a complete shock, nobody knew anything about it, and it came out of the blue,” said Debbie. 

The Northern Echo: Debbie Hills has a front seat view of the footbridge, as her house on Gilesgate is passed by thousands of people a day walking into and out of the city centre.Debbie Hills has a front seat view of the footbridge, as her house on Gilesgate is passed by thousands of people a day walking into and out of the city centre. (Image: The Northern Echo)

“We know how dangerous the crossing is and how much the bridge is used and loved. I just feel incensed.”

While there is no immediate risk of the footbridge collapsing, this could change if the bridge remains in position, the council said. It will be replaced by a new pedestrian crossing at the existing traffic lights at the Gilesgate Roundabout.

Debbie told how the Leazes Footbridge was initially built in 1974 in response to the number of pedestrians involved in crashes and branded the plans for a new pedestrian crossing as “completely ludicrous”. 

She said: “What would the motorists of Durham think of another pedestrian crossing? Already people have noticed that the extra volume of pedestrian crossings on the A690 is increasing the traffic and tailbacks. It’s going to cause outrage.”

Businesses are now reportedly suffering due to the closure and pedestrians have been forced to divert their routes. An online petition, backed by dozens of posters in local shop windows and homes, has received more than 400 signatures. Set up by Debbie in response to the council’s demolition plans, she is calling for the bridge to be saved and a detailed explanation from the council.

Debbie added: “We would like to see a thorough investigation to come up with solutions - and even if it costs more their own transport policies show it would be beneficial for the area. They’re just so casually, without consultation, pressing ahead and knocking it down.”

But Durham County Council said multiple surveys by a specialist contractor have been conducted, and found that the joints to the underside of the bridge are failing and the structure is no longer safe to bear the weight of pedestrians. 

The Northern Echo: The Leazes Footbridge in Durham CityThe Leazes Footbridge in Durham City (Image: The Northern Echo)

Mark Readman, head of highway services at the local authority, said: “We have a duty to protect public safety and put a temporary footpath closure in place after defects with Leazes Footbridge were identified during a routine inspection last summer. This allowed more detailed examinations of the structure to be carried out and we extended the closure earlier this month while we continued to consider options.

“The footbridge was built in 1974, and does not comply with modern standards. It is also inaccessible to wheelchair users.”

Yet the city’s MP Mary Kelly Foy is also concerned at the lack of consultation with residents or councillors, however. In a letter to Council Leader, Amanda Hopgood, she said: “This route is well used by people, and is a lifeline for those with mobility issues, for whom the walk around the Gilesgate roundabout is either too far – approximately a quarter of a mile more - or simply too daunting. It is not an exaggeration to say that for some, the removal of the bridge will hugely curtail their ability to move around Durham City.

“For the local authority to make a decision that will in effect increase the difficulty of getting around the city is, to say the least, baffling. It also appears to fly in the face of many of the council’s aims on improving active modes of travel around the city.”

The Labour MP also said residents and local councillors were informally advised that a new bridge would cost around £5million. 

The Northern Echo: One of the posters used as part of the local campaign One of the posters used as part of the local campaign (Image: The Northern Echo)

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Ms Foy added: “Neither residents, nor I, can accept that this iconic landmark of Durham City can simply be allowed to disappear without any public discussion of alternatives, and a genuine attempt to replace it.

Mr Readman added that while the cost of building a new footbridge is estimated to be in excess of £5 million, it is beyond economical repair and demolition is the only viable option.

“We appreciate there is a demand for a safe means of crossing at this location and are progressing plans for a pedestrian crossing at the existing traffic lights at the top of Leazes Road,” he said. 

The petition can be found here.