WYESIDERS want a “proper answer” over the ongoing closure of a popular former railway bridge over the river.

The Black Bridge linking Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean with Welsh Bicknor in Herefordshire was closed again recently because the state of its decking was deemed a risk to life.

Also known as Stowfield Viaduct, the crossing is a registered right of way and part of the 136-mile Wye Valley Walk, and is used every year by more than 20,000 walkers.

Opened in the mid-1870s to link the Ross-Monmouth Railway and Severn and Wye Railway, it was shut as a pedestrian bridge at the end of 2020 amid safety fears, and only reopened at the end of 2022 after temporary repairs.

Forest district councillor for Lydbrook, Sid Phelps (Green) is now concerned that access across the bridge has been blocked again, and has asked Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) chiefs when the public will get a “proper answer” about what’s going on with the ongoing closure of the public right of way.

He also asked the council’s commons and rights of way committee what the anticipated timescales for reopening the bridge were and why, given that monthly checks were taking place, and did the closure “creep up” on GCC.

The council’s structures team said in a written response to Cllr Phelps that the Stowfield Viaduct had been urgently closed for public safety reasons.

“The bridge decking is in extremely poor condition and would represent a danger to life if public access was maintained,” they said.

“We are working as swiftly as possible to repair the damaged decking and to re-open the bridge. Lydbrook Bridge passes over the River Wye, which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Wildlife Site (SWS).

“We are therefore legally required to complete various ecological surveys and preliminary work before any repairs can begin on site.

“Our ecologists have identified several protected species as likely to be present, including bats, otters, reptiles and whiteclawed crayfish.

“The confirmed presence of these species will directly determine when our repairs can legally proceed. Our survey work is currently ongoing and we are therefore unable to provide an exact timescale for re-opening at this time.

“Any queries from local residents have been responded to promptly. The local MP’s office has also been updated. This repair is being undertaken by Gloucestershire County Council as the maintaining authority.

“The purpose of undertaking the monthly checks was to ensure that the condition of the bridge was reviewed on a very regular basis. Given the results of these checks we have now taken the decision to close the bridge.

“We do not feel that this is the case of the bridge closure creeping up on the council.”

At a meeting of the commons and public rights of way committee at Shire Hall, Cllr Phelps said some of the committee might remember the Black Bridge was closed a few years ago.

“Very disappointingly it has been closed again for urgent repairs,” he said. “My question was simply to ask for approximate timescales for the reopening of this.”

Officers said they would respond to Cllr Phelps in writing.