This is a bridge too far: Lib Dems call for Hampton bridge to be scrapped
After years of escalating costs, Liberal Democrats in Evesham are calling for the Hampton pedestrian bridge to be scrapped. The walking and cycling bridge was originally proposed as part of the housing development in the Hampton area of Evesham along Pershore Road. Worcestershire County Council's original estimate of £4.26m, made back in 2021, which had increased to £16.5 million by 2025. The last projection estimated the project to now cost £17.6 million.
The bridge has become a contentious issue in recent months as the council currently has a £71.9 million deficit for the 2026-27 financial year. The Reform UK administration is currently suggesting that £6 million of government grant is used to pay for the bridge, along with an £8 million loan and £3.7 million of S106 developer contributions. S106 developer contributions are negotiated as part of the planning applications for new large developments and are expected to contribute to the improvement of the local infrastructure.
The council has so far spent £4.1 million to get to the point where it can now build the bridge.
Evesham Town Councillor Matt Jones says: “We have a county council hundreds of millions of pounds in debt and with a runaway budget. This is not the time to build a bridge that is now almost four times the original cost and won’t sort out the problems with our traffic. The council needs to look at how it got themselves in this mess and explain how this project got so out of control. How could the council estimate the costs to be so low originally when they already had bridges costing more than expected? Surely the developers should have been expected to contribute more if the councils were serious about building this project?”
Leader of the Liberal Democrats at Worcestershire County Council, Dan Boatright-Greene: “This is a bridge too far. First, we had the over-budget Kepax bridge, often called the bridge to nowhere. Now we have the Hampton bridge, blink, and an extra £1 million has been added to the costs. There comes a time when we have to cut and run. While no one wants to hand back money to the developers, the costs are out of control, and we cannot afford this project. If scaped, we could spend £6 million of grant money on sorting out the potholes and poorly maintained pavements. And we save £8 million on the interest of the loan. Writing off what has already been spent is far better than spending more on a project that is out of control.”