PROTESTS. BUT SLIP BRIDGE REHOMED

Article by Sian David - 11 July 2005

Love it or loathe it, it's here to stay. The final chapter in the saga of Swansea's Slip Bridge drew to a close yesterday as the landmark reached its final resting place, changing the face of the city's foreshore forever.

The bridge was moved to the cycle path along the foreshore on Saturday night in a scheme costing council taxpayers around £120,000.

It had spanned Oystermouth Road for more than 100 years before falling into disrepair.

But a decision to move it was taken last year after it was found massive restoration work would be needed if it was to stay where it was.I

t would have cost close to £700,000 with another £250,000 on top over 15 years in maintenance charges. So at the weekend it was at last shifted into position after having a basic facelift including a coat of paint. Its new home on the foreshore path opposite the city's Mumbles Road Recreation ground is where it will now stay.

The move aroused strong feeling in many city residents over whether the bridge should be saved or scrapped. Some wanted it to be restored and returned to its original home over Oystermouth Road.

Others labelled it a waste of money and insisted it should go.A tiny handful of protesters gathered at the new site yesterday to voice their protests as a giant crane was brought in to hoist it into position.

Protest organiser DJ Plastic Sam labelled it "a great waste of money".Chartered surveyor Gary Perkins, who was also against relocating the bridge, said he was concerned that children and skateboarders would use the bridge as a climbing frame and could possibly get hurt.

He added: "They have lost sight of the fact that this is a bridge. It doesn't serve any purpose here and it doesn't look nice. It's just become a giant climbing frame."Passer-by Edward Addicott, aged 77, said he also thought the relocation was a waste of money. "For the life of me I cannot see why the bridge was put there when the money is needed for the roads and schools."It's really upsetting for the people of Swansea to come down here and look at that, it doesn't look nice and kids will climb on it and get hurt," he said.

However, others disagreed saying it was an important part of the city's heritage and deserved to be saved."I think it looks great,'' said foreshore cyclist and mum-of-two Val Hughes, of Gorseinon. "It is nice to see a feature being made of it,'' she added.

Oystermouth Road was closed overnight on Saturday while the work was carried out. Specialist lifting equipment had to be drafted in to move the bridge from the Recreation Ground on Mumbles Road.

It was dumped there more than a year ago, following concerns over the condition of its structure first raised in December 2003.

Cabinet member for the environment John Hague said: "This is an exciting project which will give the bridge a new lease of life and remain as a prominent and striking feature of Swansea Bay.

"The bridge will be preserved for walkers and cyclists and will also be used by the popular land train as part of its extended route."