BBC Essex Radio Cllr Lee Scott's Statement "We are making this decision on safety grounds"

Ben Fryer, BBC Essex Radio, invited SOB on their programme today to talk about our campaign to save Boxted bridge from demolition by Essex Highways who want to replace it with a much wider bridge. A statement was read out from Cllr Lee Scott, ECC Portfolio Holder for Highways about Boxted bridge, you can listen to it here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fBftJq-8KOZCnvlCDEkhUjfcASkD2nfm/view?usp=sharing

"The possibility of repairing the current structure was explored through a detailed and independent option study. This study clearly recommended that replacement was the best option. The design of a future bridge would be very similar to the current bridge and we have worked with the local Parish Council on the proposals. Our proposed design is expected to improve road safety at this location.  We are making this decision on safety grounds. This is our paramount concern and we are aware that those against us will never agree with our proposals but on matters of safety expert engineering opinion should always outweigh any other". Cllr Lee Scott

FACTS: The Cleveland Report (a desk study) did not recommend replacing the bridge for the proposed 50% wider bridge, it only recommended replacing the deck . The design of the proposed bridge is not similar.  It is much much wider and is made of concrete with pastiche steel plates with fake rivets. The Parish Council vehemently rejected Highways drawing in January last year as being completely out of scale in the AONB. There never has been a head on collision here on the current bridge. If the bridge is replaced and the hump removed it will be more dangerous at this location as traffic will go faster. Fire engines can already cross the current bridge without difficulty! There is no need for a wider bridge suitable for HGVs as the latest Traffic Survey average states crossings of the bridge are 97% cars, motor cycles and LGVs only 2% HGVs. Traffic flow is low, about 300 cars a day. Traffic travels on average slowly at less than 25 mph.