A bridge on the Stiffkey marshes which was controversially removed by the National Trust last year is finally set to be rebuilt – but locals will have to wait until autumn 2024.
The National Trust removed a wooden footbridge - which had stretched across a tidal creek on the marshes for more than half a century - in March last year, after it had become rotten and unsafe due to erosion.
But the trust’s decision to remove the bridge - and the amount of time it is taking to replace it - has caused rising tension between the charity and frustrated locals, who have grown tired of waiting for a way to safely cross the marshes and avoid being cut off in high tide.
So much so that two stopgap crossings have since appeared over the marshes – the first being removed by the trust in what locals called “an early morning raid” in August, and a second, which remains standing.
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Now, the charity has announced it hopes to start building a new bridge in September next year and says it should be finished by the end of autumn.
The trust hopes to submit planning permission for the 20-metre long bridge by next spring.
Paul Forecast, the National Trust's regional director for the East of England, told locals at a public meeting at Stiffkey Village Hall on Monday night (September 25) that delays have been caused by the “complex ownership” of the marshes.
“The actual practicality of building a bridge is pretty straightforward, but what makes this complicated is the permissions that we need in order to do it,” he said.
“The National Trust owns the land above high mean tide. Everything below that is owned by The Crown Estate, which is leased to Natural England.
“We need the permission of both the Crown Estate and Natural England in order to do any works.”
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The trust has already spent £21,500 on designing the bridge and exploring the required permissions.
However, locals at the meeting could not understand why the trust was able to tear down the original bridge so quickly but the process of rebuilding it continues to drag on.
One local accused the trust of acting like “cowboys” by “knocking things down without consultation”.
Victoria Egan, the trust's general manager for North Norfolk and the Broads, said: “The planning permission for North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) takes 12 weeks, but the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) takes an extra month.
"We will run these concurrently, but it will cause delay.”
North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker, who was also at the hall, said he hoped the meeting between the trust and locals could help to “restore some trust” between them.
“I deal with Natural England and the MMO regularly – they are not the easiest bodies to deal with,” he said.
“I have distinct concerns that Natural England hold the joker card and if Natural England turn around and say this is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - and is of such importance that they do not want members of the public to walk on these designated salt marshes - the bridge won’t be built. We have to be honest about that.
“We have to be blunt about the fact this is taking an inordinate amount of time. We’re talking about autumn next year for a bridge to be built across a very small surface area.”
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