Villagers in Buckinghamshire have raised nearly £10,000 in just 11 days to replace a local footbridge after it began to deteriorate.

Neil Dring, 60, the chair of Medmenham Parish Council, was the driving force behind a fundraiser launched on November 23 to help raise money towards the replacement of Ferry Lane footbridge, a vital asset to residents in the South Bucks village which had become rotten and began to deteriorate in recent months. 

Neil said the council had determined that urgent action needed to be taken after it was judged that, if left unchecked, the footbridge’s condition could considerably worsen over time, resulting in a long-term closure that would likely have a measurable impact on the community.

Normally, the council would assume the replacement costs itself, but a recent riverbank restoration project, prompted by significant erosion near the Ferry Memorial in Medmenham, had depleted the local authority’s reserves, leaving councillors with little choice but to appeal to villagers’ support.

The appeal, which Neil said he hoped the council wouldn’t ever “have to do again”, was a resounding success, with the fundraiser’s target of £9,000 reached on Monday, December 4, just 11 days after it was launched.

Alan Hely, who organised the campaign, thanked all those who contributed for their support, writing: “We did it! We have exceeded our target with £9,315 raised in just 11 days from 64 extremely generous donations.

READ MORE: Locals object to turning historic Grade II pub into 'disruptive' car showroom

“Many thanks to all who helped spread the news and a bigger thanks to all those who donated. The other bit of great news is that the footbridge is already in the process of being replaced.”

Neil previously told the Free Press that he and other councillors had been spurred to action after witnessing the long-term closure of other bridges in the area, including Temple Bridge, precipitated by gradually declining structural issues.

“You could see that the bridge was starting to go – we assessed it and found that it wasn't in a critical state, but preventative action was the best way forward. If we don’t replace it, it might survive through winter, but it also might not.

“It’s a part of the Thames river walk and we have lots of visitors who swim and launch canoes and paddleboards from it. (The area) is also popular among villagers – I go on dog walks twice a day myself, often near Ferry Lane.”

He also praised Alan’s idea to start a GoFundMe page, rather than increasing the local precept, the amount of money the council requires from council taxpayers in the area.

“I’m glad we have been able to raise money this way. Not everyone can afford to shoulder these costs.”