Mary Kelly Foy MP asks government to help save Leazes Footbridge

Mary Kelly Foy issued the last ditch attempt to stop the planned demolition of Leazes Footbridge. 

The City of Durham MP wrote to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner asking for help and advice as Durham County Council presses ahead with the plans.

Leazes Footbridge was closed last year on health and safety grounds after multiple surveys determined it could no longer bear the weight of pedestrians and cyclists.

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

Further investigations by the local authority found the footbridge is beyond economical repair and does not meet modern accessibility standards.

But campaigners argue the council’s judgement is wrong and the bridge should be saved. A ‘Saves Leazes Footbridge’ petition was signed by more than 700 people. 

Ms Foy argued that residents have found the decision-making process opaque, the local authority’s actions wilfully obstructive to those wishing to raise concerns, and the decision itself based on fatally flawed evidence.

“Despite this, and the unnecessary cost to the public purse being pointed out to the local authority, the council has doubled down, and now seems to be seeking ways to ensure that residents have no route to object to this decision,” the Labour MP said. 

Campaigners argue that repair is the more viable and significantly cheaper option for the bridge, with the ability to extend its life for at least another 20 years. But Ms Foy said the local authority favours demolition, thought to be around £1 million. 

“Shockingly, it now appears that as well as refusing to accept the twice verified errors in the report, the council is actively seeking ways to shut down routes of objection for residents,” Ms Foy said. 

Campaigners argue the council’s judgement is wrong and the bridge should be saved. (Image: The Northern Echo)

In the letter to the government, the City of Durham MP added: “I am hoping that your department will be able to offer advice on the council’s view that they do not need planning permission and advise me on what steps residents can take to at least get the council to review this discredited decision and waste of public money, given that the usual routes of objection are increasingly closed off to us.”

A signalised pedestrian crossing at the existing traffic lights on Gilesgate Roundabout will be created in its place. However, concerns have also been raised about the safety of pedestrians crossing the busy city centre road. 

Durham County Council said the new crossing will provide a safe and accessible route across the A690.

It is understood the cost of repairing the bridge’s structure would cost around £2.1 million. 

Mary Kelly Foy also wrote to Council Leader Amanda Hopgood and the authority’s chief executive in a plea to stop the demolition. 

John Shuttleworth, cabinet member for highways and rural communities, said: “All decisions relating to the closure and demolition of Leazes Footbridge have been based on expert engineering and financial advice, and we would be happy to discuss this process with the Secretary of State.

“Leazes Footbridge was found to be unsafe for use by pedestrians and cyclists. Its closure was not a matter for public consultation; we had to take action to protect the public.  

“We have considered all options carefully and believe that the demolition of the footbridge and creation of a crossing at existing traffic lights a short distance away is the best solution. Not only does this provide a safe and accessible route across the A690 for everyone, but it offers the best value for money for taxpayers.”