Efforts to replace Shorwell’s White Lady Bridge have stalled, with parish councillors now offering to provide their own structural engineer amid frustrations over the Isle of Wight Council’s inaction.
The matter was discussed at the most recent Shorwell Parish Council (SPC) meeting held on Monday 7th July at Shorwell Parish Hall.
The White Lady Bridge straddles Shorwell Shute around 500 metres north of Shorwell village and sits within the Isle of Wight National Landscape (IWNL).
Shorwell Parish Council’s revised bid to replace the bridge with a new steel and timber structure was approved by County Hall back in February – as previously reported by Island Echo.
It is understood that Shorwell Parish Council has contacted the Highways Department on several occasions, but they have been told that there is nobody currently employed by the Isle of Wight Council who can authorise it.
SPC has made further contact in attempts to resolve this lack of progress, with SPC now offering to provide an approved structural engineer if the Isle of Wight Council cannot provide one.
In a Planning Statement submitted at the end of 2024, Shorwell Parish Council said:
“Everyone on this parish council is clear, this application represents the last chance to save this bridge. Councillors have given up their free time and energy to try to save it.”
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We had no Mow May, maybe it’s no Bridge
2025.