Marsh Lock Horsebridge: More information

I have been pursuing this matter for over two years and this is the latest statement from the OCC officer:

"...the EA has no budget to make any repairs this year or next which is disappointing. They now have a member of staff who is project managing the repairs of these bridges. He has been looking at ways to fund the repair of Marsh Lock utilising partner funding. The EA has now written a procedure for partnership funding, which has been agreed upon by their legal teams. Partnership funding will be required to help prioritise the bridges against their priority list. The EA gets funding from Defra, and then the EA national team allocates money to specific projects. They have a priority list and matrix for how they work through and fund all their projects. There is a strict and specific way that they grade the works required, and the money must be split between bridges, weirs, and locks.

"I believe 2025/26 will involve carrying out further survey work with funding submissions for the following year if partner funding can be found. Temple Bridge in Marlow is being prioritised because repairs are possible, and the surveys have been carried out.

"Next year, once the surveys have been completed, we will all know how much funding is required and the options available."

Posted by: David Bartholomew | 11/11/2024 10:10 am

It transpires that the £500,000 figure is not just for Marsh Lock Horsebridge, but includes Temple Bridge at Marlow as well.

Posted by: David Bartholomew | 23/04/2025 5:22 pm

Following press reports that the Environment Agency (EA) has obtained £500,000 to fund surveys/design this financial year, I have asked the OCC Thames Path Manager to ask the EA why the costs are so high. She will report back to me when she has this information but remarked that is very unlikely that actual repair/replacement work will commence this year.

Posted by: David Bartholomew | 22/04/2025 6:20 pm

There is a change.org petition circulating that is urging the Environment Agency to repair and reopen the lock

Posted by: David Bartholomew | 23/01/2025 2:41 pm

I am advised by OCC officers that the rumour circulating that Temple Footbridge is to reopen shortly is unfounded. Following the recent inspections, it has been identified that the bridge is in such a poor condition that further inspections have been cancelled and contractors have recommended immediate removal of the central span. The option of fabricating a replacement central section is being investigated.

Posted by: David Bartholomew | 28/11/2024 10:09 am

I have been asked why the bridge was closed in the first place. The answer is that defects of unknown severity were identified during a routine inspection. This led to the closure and further investigation. It was then deemed necessary to close the bridge for an indefinite period rather than the short-term closure initially envisaged.

Posted by: David Bartholomew | 13/11/2024 8:01 pm

All in all, the timescale is very depressing: 2025/26 for survey work; 2026/27 for funding submissions; perhaps a start on work in 2027/28

Posted by: David Bartholomew | 12/11/2024 6:03 pm

I have been asked what 'partnership funding' means; it could be funding from Local Authorities, parish councils, local charities, donors, etc. The EA can only receive the funding from a legal entity such as these and not a private person, although a private person could contribute via those entities. This is not an ideal situation but it would help the repair/replacement of the bridge score higher against other competing EA infrastructure works.

Posted by: David Bartholomew | 12/11/2024 6:00 pm