Long term improvement plans for Union Chain Bridge wanted

Release date: 20.08.07
Ref: BBC/PR/L&D/27/07

Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council’s Planning Committee at its last meeting (07.08.07) requested that Northumberland County Council (NCC) produce long term plans for the conservation of the Union Chain Bridge.

Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Brian Douglas said:
“NCC put forward plans for temporary repairs to the bridge which we agreed, and although we welcome the fact that the replacement hangers are to be made by local tradesmen, Members are concerned that the long term conservation of the Bridge has not been addressed.

“2020 is the bi-centenary of the Union Chain Bridge. The 2020 Project group are drawing up plans to celebrate this event. It would be a real missed opportunity if the bridge was not a fully functioning vehicle-carrying suspension bridge through lack of long term maintenance.

“We have requested that NCC comes back to us as soon as possible with a detailed plan to fully restore this historic bridge so that it can be preserved for current and future generations,” he said.