CIVIC SOCIETY'S LAST-DITCH PLEA TO SAVE BRIDGE

Shaun Greaney - 02 February 2005

Swansea Council has been urged to pursue every avenue to save the city's treasured Slip Bridge from the scrapheap. Following reports that the bridge's fate is almost certainly sealed, the city's Civic Society has now stepped in with a last-ditch plea.

The council is understood to be put off by the cost of restoring the bridge.

But now the Civic Society says there are options which could offer a solution to cabinet member for the environment Councillor John Hague, under whose wing the bridge falls.

Society secretary Eirwen Harry said the possibilities were "many and varied", including Cadw, which although it did not list the bridge in 2004, could still offer grants for buildings of historic interest.

She added: "The Architectural Heritage Fund can assist with grants and lists funding available from various charities on its website."

A list of about a dozen organisations has been sent to Mr Hague in the hope that he may be able to seek out possibly substantial help in undertaking the bridge repairs.

An expert's report into the future of the bridge is being finalised. The council has been warned to expect a backlash if the option of restoring the bridge is abandoned.

The authority last year spent £35,000 on distributing a questionnaire in Swansea asking what the public wanted to happen to the bridge.

It asked if people were in favour of complete removal of the bridge at a cost of £30,000; a £690,000 refurbishment scheme with £250,000 maintenance over 10 to 15 years or a £350,000 replacement.

Some 8,500 people replied.

It is thought there is a fairly even split in terms of the responses received for and against saving the bridge.