Wiltshire Council has allocated £50,000 of Active Travel England funding towards a new pedestrian and cycling shared use bridge over the River Avon. Wiltshire Council is working closely with Bradford on Avon Town Council on the project
The proposal is to build a new footbridge over the river from Bridge Street on the south side to Bridge Yard on the north side, making it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to avoid the busy Town Bridge.
The funding will be spent on preparing a design and outline business case for the bridge, which will then be used as the basis to secure further funding to pay for the project to be completed.
Wiltshire Council has submitted its draft four-year active travel programme to Active Travel England, and this includes allocating funding for the bridge over the four years.
Following the initial £50,000 for design in financial year 2026/27, the draft programme also includes an indicative allocation for further detailed design in financial year 2027/28, followed by an indicative allocation towards implementation in financial years 2028/29 and 2029/30.
Councillor Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “Securing this funding is an important next step towards making it safer and easier for people to move around Bradford on Avon on foot and by bike.
“We are pleased to be working closely with Bradford on Avon Town Council to develop the design and business case, which will put us in a strong position to secure further funding and move the project forward.
“This is a scheme the community has been asking for, and this investment reflects Our Wiltshire Plan commitment to work with local communities on their priorities.
“We know that crossing the river can be particularly challenging at busy times, and concerns have been raised locally about pedestrian safety on the Town Bridge, especially for those walking close to traffic.
“A new pedestrian and cycling bridge would provide a much safer alternative route, helping people to avoid traffic, encouraging more active travel and improving everyday journeys around the town. It would also ensure pedestrians are still able to cross the river during periods of flooding when access can otherwise be restricted.”
Councillor Jack Vittles, Mayor of Bradford on Avon said: “I am delighted that this funding has come forward and that we have over £440,000 of indictive funding allocated between now and 2030 to bring this project to fruition.
“Getting this bridge built has been a top priority for the town council over the last five years, and residents have been clear in their desire to see this project become a reality. I am proud that we are delivering on that.
“A new pedestrian bridge will make our residents safer and make our town centre more vibrant. It will also give more resilience when we experience serious floods, and help with keeping the north and south of the town connected.
“I want to thank Wiltshire Council as well as my fellow town councillors for all the hard work to get us to this point. We will keep residents updated throughout the process.”