AN assurance has been given that Ludford Bridge is safe ahead of a shock public meeting called to discuss its future.

But a warning has also been issued that actiun is needed to make sure it is never closed again, because the town cannot afford the damage to trade.

The public meeting comes a month after the sudden and dramatic collapse of the 220

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year old Eastham Bridge near Tenbury.

But although Ludford Bridge is much older, dating back to the time of the English Civil War, a Ludlow councillor has moved to quash any suggestion that there are concerns about its safety.

However, the Ludlow and Clee Local Joint Committee has called a special public meeting to discuss the future of Ludford Bridge.

Experts in historic monuments and highways will be at the meeting at 7pm next Thursday (June 30) at the Elim Church in Ludlow.

Andy Boddington, who represents Ludlow on Shropshire Council, insists that there is no link between the public meeting and the collapse of Eastham Bridge just months after it was inspected.

Just like Eastham Bridge there is no weight restriction on Ludford Bridge.

“Ludford Bridge is perfectly safe,” said Andy Boddington.

“It was reinforced in the second-world-war to carry American tanks and is capable of safely carrying the heaviest lorry.”

However, he admitted that the issue of whether a weight restriction should be imposed is one of the issues that will be considered.

“This is not because of weight and safety but because of the size of modern vehicles,” added Andy Boddington.

“When the bridge was damaged and had to be closed earlier in the year it was because it was hit by a reversing lorry that had not been able to get through Broadgate.”

Andy Boddington said that there needs to be a plan in place in case the bridge ever has to be closed again.

“There was a very severe impact on businesses in Ludlow that suffered badly,” he said.

“I know of one business that was losing £2,000 a week and that can be the difference between surviving and going under. However, because of other factors like the weather, it is not possible to put an exact figure on the economic damage caused by the closure of the bridge.”

But he said that before any decision on a weight restriction for Ludford Bridge is made careful consideration will have to be given to the alternatives and that a suggestion by Ludlow Town Council that a roundabout be built a Bromfield Road was not practical because of the £2 million price tag.

Highways chiefs from Shropshire Council will be at the public meeting to listen to the ideas of local people and to respond.

Also at the meeting will be experts in Historic monuments after criticism of the repair that was completed in May.

“There is a feeling that it is not good and that the bridge looks too new,” said Andy Boddington.

“However, the problem was that there was no weathered stone available and the stone recovered from the river was not suitable. Therefore, there was no alternative but to use new stone.”

Ludford Bridge was closed to traffic in February and reopened in May in time for the Spring Food Festival but not in time for the May Fair.

The town’s Chamber of Trade described the closure as a disaster for businesses in Ludlow.