AT LAST, A NEW SITE FOR SLIP

Chris Davies - 18 February 2005

Swansea's landmark Slip Bridge IS to get a new home. Cabinet members have agreed to relocate it to a new home alongside the cyclepath opposite the St Helen's ground.

Yesterday's decision followed more than a year of deliberations on what should be done with the bridge.

The Post revealed in December 2003 that it had deteriorated badly and needed heavy investment.

A public consultation failed to find a consensus on what to do with the bridge. But now Swansea's cabinet has backed plans for its new home.

Councillor Gerald Clement, the cabinet member for culture and recreation, said they have now given it back to all of Swansea not just the able bodied.

He said had it returned to its home spanning Oystermouth Road disabled people would not have been able to use it.

Councillor Clement said: "There will be elements that wouldn't be satisfied apart from the restoration of the bridge in its original place.

"What we have come up with will satisfy most people.

"Had we put the bridge back in its own place we have would have been going contrary to disabled access provision that we should comply with.

"Now all people will be able to use the bridge and enjoy the architecture within it.

"This is something to be used by everyone."

The bridge, which is nearly 100 years old, was removed from its abutments and placed on the rec ground next to St Helen's last March.

A consultation exercise was launched in October to gauge public opinion on three options.

The council said that restoring the bridge to its former glory would cost £690,000 with a maintenance cost of £250,000 over 10 to 15 years.

Another option was a replica replacement billed at £350,000 with a £75,000 maintenance package needed over the same period.The third option was to not put it back. No clear favourite could be decided so the council put forward a plan to install it next to the cycle path.

It is expected to cost £100,000, well within the £300,000 budget set aside for it.Council leader Chris Holley, speaking at yesterday's cabinet meeting, said had the council opted to restore the bridge to its original glory it would have meant cutting services elsewhere.

He said: "It is very easy for people to knock but when you have to make decision on budgets the total cost of restoration would have meant taking money out of things like social services or education budget."

The cabinet agreed to push forward the plans and apply for planning permission to put the bridge in its new home.

Councillor John Newbury, the cabinet member for finance, said: "I am pleased to see that Councillor Hague has come up with a solution which I think will satisfy a majority of people in Swansea.

"I haven't seen the layout on computer yet which will give a better idea of how it will look but it really is a welcome move and one which I think the people of Swansea will enjoy once it is in place."