Marlow: Residents clean suspension bridge after council 'neglect'

Marlow residents from both sides of the Thames came together this morning (January 13) for an orchestrated cleaning effort of the Marlow suspension bridge in a gesture of solidarity with concerns expressed by Bernard Guly earlier this week about the worsening state of the historic structure.

Armed with suds and sponges, the volunteers scrubbed away at the dirt that had accumulated on the bridge’s railings, making a visible difference in under half an hour of coordinated work.

Whilst it demonstrated what a determined community could accomplish in such a short space of time, those in attendance acknowledged that much greater action needed to be taken by Buckinghamshire Council to ensure the longevity of Marlow’s most defining landmark.

Fiona Bissett-Powell, who had her wedding photo taken on the bridge twelve years ago, said her main motivation for joining the cleaning group was to preserve the structure’s value as a picturesque backdrop.

She said: “I don’t think the bridge has been painted since I got married, and I feel a bit depressed that any brides going across from The Compleat Angler to All Saints Church now won’t have the privilege that I did, when there had just been a fresh coat.

“It's very clear that there have been twelve years of neglect. This bridge is something that needs to be maintained and we've shown today that it doesn’t take much to make a difference.”

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Tansye Essex added: “It’s embarrassing, the state of it at the moment. We take pride in our town and try to keep it nice, but the bridge is the reason why a lot of visitors come. And it just looks embarrassing.”

Bernard, who said he is hopeful that, with increased attention, the council will begin to take notice of the bridge’s unfit state, nonetheless reiterated his worst-case scenario, which would entail “it being allowed to deteriorate so much that someone in the council says, ‘it costs too much to repair and maintain, we need to replace it’”.

Michael New also directed focus to the long-term preservation of Marlow Bridge as a standing structure, something that is put at risk, he said, by “serious issues with its bearings” which, if left undealt with, could result in an extended closure similar to that currently underway at Cookham.

Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport at Buckinghamshire Council previously told the Free Press that Marlow Bridge was “regularly checked, maintained and improved”, before admitting that maintenance works on such historic strictures were “very costly” and “must be balanced with available budgets”.

He added: “Currently, Buckinghamshire Highways is developing plans to complete various maintenance and improvement works at the bridge.

“This includes the final phase of planned painting work, which will see the Marlow end of the bridge and the western parapet over the central part of the river repainted. Additionally, the streetlights at both ends of the bridge will be replaced as part of this work."