ARCHES COULD BE KEPT AS VIEWPOINT

Chris Davies - 21 March 2005

Part of Swansea's land- mark Slip Bridge structure could be saved, the Post can reveal today. Council bosses are looking at retaining the abutments which supported the Oystermouth Road bridge.

They could be used for a cafe, toilets and a viewing platform.

The Post has seen the council's file on the Slip Bridge under Freedom of Information legislation.

It revealed that the authority is looking at making the most of the abutments.

Councillor Chris Holley, the leader of the council, confirmed the plans to the Post and said the proposals could pave the way for that part of Swansea Bay to get Blue Flag status.

He said: "We are pushing forward with it."There is a requirement for water and toilets on the beach so what Councillor John Hague and his environment department have done is they are going to convert the abutment near the sea and put toilets in the two arches and make water available and on top make it a viewing platform.

"Underneath the other platform we are hoping to get somebody in to open up something like an ice cream shop.

"It could be marvellous."

City leaders have decided to relocate the bridge itself and incorporate it into the cycle path opposite St Helen's.

It has been sitting on the nearby recreation ground since being removed from its abutments last year.

The Post revealed it had deteriorated badly and would need a massive amount of money spent on it to return it to glory.

A public consultation on the bridge's future failed to deliver an overwhelming consensus on what to do with it so the option of relocating it was agreed.

Calls for it to be moved to Blackpill as a pedestrian and cycle crossing were dismissed as they would cost just as much as the restoration which was estimated at costing £690,000 with a maintenance cost of £250,000 over 10 to 15 years.

A report on the future of the bridge's abutments said: "It is proposed that these would remain in place with possibly beachside toilet facilities located in the seaward support areas and a small cafe or similar located in the opposite support.

"The beachside support could be adapted to be a lookout post or observation vantage point."