Medieval bridge shut after being hit by Uber car

An Uber car was wedged into the bridge after the crash



A medieval bridge is shut to traffic after an Uber vehicle hit the side of it and became jammed, causing significant structural damage.

The vehicle hit the inner side of the 15th Century bridge on the B4085 Honeybourne Road, Bidford-on-Avon, on Saturday before becoming jammed, Warwickshire County Council said.

Scaffolding has been erected to inspect the stone and assess damage, with a timescale of repairs being published by the authority at a later date.

Councillor Jan Matecki said the listed bridge, which crosses the River Avon, would be reopened as soon as possible.

However, he said the authority did not know when this would be.

The car is still on the bridge but could be moved later on Tuesday.

A diversion route for motorists is available using Barton Road. The bridge is still open for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Big Meadow car park and Saxon Fields car park can be used to access businesses in the village, the council said.

That looks deliberate to me?

More parking for visitors as bridge remains closed



Visitors to a Warwickshire village are being offered extra parking as a medieval bridge remains closed for repairs, almost a month after an accident shut the road to traffic.

An Uber car hit and became wedged on the historic 15th Century bridge on the B4085 Honeybourne Road, Bidford-on-Avon, on 10 August, causing significant structural damage, the county council said.

Bidford Parish Council said it was making extra parking arrangements to support local businesses and they hoped repairs would be carried out as "quickly as possible"

The BBC has asked the county council when the bridge will reopen.

Scaffolding was erected to inspect the stone and check the damage following the crash.

The county council said in August a timescale of repairs was due to be published at a later date.

Councillor Rob Williams, chairman of the parish council, said the bridge closure had "hit local businesses hard".

The Winter Car Park, in front of The Big Meadow, was opened to encourage more visitors to the village, he added.

The car park is open all day from Monday to Friday and from 17:00 to 07:00 BST on Saturday and Sunday, so drivers can leave their cars and walk across the bridge to shops and businesses.

Banners were also put up to remind people that the High Street remained open for business, a parish council spokesperson added.

The BBC has asked the county council when the bridge will reopen.

Historic bridge shut until November, council says

A medieval bridge that was shut after being damaged in a car crash will remain closed until November, Warwickshire County Council has said.

An Uber car hit and became wedged on the historic 15th Century bridge in Bidford-on-Avon on 10 August, causing significant structural damage.

Scaffolding was erected to inspect the stone and check the damage following the crash.

"There is a significant amount of planning, resourcing, and design work going on behind the scenes," a Warwickshire County Council spokesperson said.

Additional parking has been put in place to support local businesses as repairs are being carried out to the bridge on the B4085 Honeybourne Road.

The car park is open all day from Monday to Friday and from 17:00 to 07:00 BST on Saturday and Sunday, so drivers can leave their cars and walk across the bridge to shops and businesses.

The local authority added: "The team is focused on completing the repairs to the ancient monument bridge, to the necessary standard, in order to reopen the road at the earliest opportunity.

"We envisage that repair work to address the damage from the RTC (road traffic collision) will conclude by the end of November, in line with early estimates made post-incident and subject to any detrimental weather or river levels experienced."

Bridge closure is hitting trade, say businesses



Thousands of pounds worth of trade is being lost due to the closure of a village bridge, businesses have said.

The 15th Century bridge on the B4085 Honeybourne Road is one of the main routes into Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire.

It has been shut to vehicles since August, after an Uber driver crashed into it, and traders said they had seen a sharp drop in footfall since.

Warwickshire County Council said the closure was important to protect road users and that it was hoping to have it reopened as quickly as possible.

Guriq Randhawa, from Bidford Pharmacy, told BBC CWR the store was set to lose an estimated £4,000 because of the closure and some deliveries were taking drivers about 30 minutes longer than usual.

"We've noticed possibly a 20% reduction in shop sales because we would be the nearest pharmacy for a lot of the locality on the other side of the river," he said.

"It’s been pretty impactful. We weren't sure how it would be initially, but it's certainly noticeable looking at the monthly statements now."

The council said it was hoping to have the bridge repaired and reopened by the end of November, but that it would depend on the weather and river levels.

Mr Randhawa said it was "vital" that the work was finished on time, particularly approaching the winter months when the pharmacy tends to get busier.

Katie Blundell, who works at The Bulls Head pub, said income had been half what it normally was, which she put down to the drop in passing trade resulting from the closure.

"I know it's taken a massive hit on a lot of businesses, but especially here," she said.

Ms Blundell added it was "massively crucial" that the work was done by the Christmas period, saying: "It can be make or break for a lot of businesses within the village."

Historic bridge struck in Uber taxi crash reopens

A medieval bridge that was damaged when an Uber taxi became wedged on it after crashing into a barrier, has reopened.

The car hit the historic 15th Century bridge on the B4085 Honeybourne Road, Bidford-on-Avon, on 10 August, causing significant structural damage, Warwickshire County Council said.

Scaffolding was erected to inspect the level of the damage following the crash.

However Jan Matecki, council portfolio holder for transport and planning, said the closure had been lifted, with the "complex and challenging project" nearly finished.

"I'm delighted that the repair works on Bidford-on-Avon River Bridge are almost finished," he said.

"We're grateful to everyone involved for their hard work and dedication in ensuring the bridge is restored to its former glory.

"This is great news for local businesses and residents ahead of the Christmas period."

A traffic management scheme at Binton Bridge has also been removed,

Businesses in Bidford had said that thousands of pounds of trade had been lost due to the closure.