Monday, 3 December 2018

Latest plans for Alma Bridge passed by County Council > "the proposal provides a high-quality link"

Back in September, the planning authority formally agreed to a new bridge at the mouth of the River Sid:
Futures Forum: Latest plans for Alma Bridge passed by County Council > "The bridge will be very welcome."

With the full picture here:

18/1869/CM | A new pedestrian footbridge is proposed which will replace the existing Alma footbridge which is located at the mouth of the River Sid at the eastern end of the Sidmouth Seafront. The new bridge and approach ramps will be sited approximately 37m upstream of the existing bridge. Once the new bridge has been completed the old bridge will be demolished. | Alma Bridge The Esplanade Sidmouth

It has now been "signed off by the council’s planning department."

As reported this weekend in the Herald: 


New River Sid footbridge plans approved

28 November 2018

Sam Cooper



The newly approved plans for the River Sid footbridge. Picture: Devon County Council

The £750,000 plans to build a new bridge over the River Sid have been given the final approval for work to begin.

The application came direct from Devon County Council, which applied to replace the 130 year old Alma Bridge.

The bridge is in poor condition and likely to be lost in the next few years. It had been hoped the works would begin this autumn but they have been postponed until after FolkWeek in August 2019 and will last for around six months. The new bridge will have a minimum life span of 40 years and will be installed 37 metres upstream of the existing bridge. The installation could see the fencing off of the Ham and the current footpath leading up to Cliff Road will be closed.


New River Sid footbridge plans approved | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

And by Devon Live:

Plans to replace Sidmouth seafront bridge approved

The Alma Bridge will be replaced next year

Daniel Clark Local Democracy Reporter
20 NOV 2018


SIDMOUTH SHED ON CLIFF EDGE

Plans for a new £750,000 footbridge over the River Sid on Sidmouth seafront have been approved.

Devon County Council’s own application to replace the 130-year-old Alma Bridge with a new structure, 37 metres upstream from the existing bridge, has been signed off by the council’s planning department.

The new bridge will have a minimum life span of 40 years and needs to be installed as the existing Alma Bridge, which is in poor condition, in anticipation to be lost within the next few years due to the ongoing coastal erosion.


New artist impressions of the proposed Alma Bridge in Sidmouth

But while the building works for the new bridge are taking place, the popular seafront recreation ground, the Ham, could be fenced-off, while the Hanger Path, the current footpath leading up to Cliff Road will be closed.

The works, which will last around six months, were initially hoped to begin this autumn, but Devon County Council has decided to postpone them until after FolkWeek in August 2019.

Approving the scheme, council planning officers said: “It is considered that the proposal provides a high-quality link, which responds to the constraints and character of the area, allowing access to protected landscapes and areas. While there may be some impacts during construction, these are considered temporary and outweighed by the benefits of the proposal, which provides a sustainable link for the future.


New artist impressions of the proposed Alma Bridge in Sidmouth

“The construction period, which is anticipated to be 24 weeks, will result in the loss of open space. However, this is considered temporary and the area will be reinstated, and a small area of footpath will be lost, but this is considered negligble.”

A planning statement submitted with the application added: “A new pedestrian footbridge is proposed which will replace the existing Alma footbridge located at the mouth of the River Sid at the eastern end of Sidmouth Seafront.


New artist impressions of the proposed Alma Bridge in Sidmouth

“The existing bridge structure is in poor condition and the foundations have suffered several significant scour events. Hence to allow the bridge to remain open, as a precaution, a temporary scaffold bridge over-spanning it was installed in 2012.

“Due to the ongoing significant coastal erosion it is anticipated this temporary arrangement will be lost within the next few years.”

There has been a bridge in this general location for at least 130 years linking up the town of Sidmouth on either side of the River Sid, and the replacement bridge scheme will secure the South West Coast-Path at Sidmouth for the foreseeable future, the documents say.


Alma Bridge in Sidmouth as it is at the moment

They add: “The existing bridge will remain open during the new bridge construction to allow a route for beach access and emergency beach egress only.”

Hanger Path, the current footpath leading from Alma Bridge to Cliff Road though will be closed for the duration of the construction works, lasting around six months, as a section of it will have to be realigned.


Plans to replace Sidmouth seafront bridge approved - Devon Live
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