We had a bridge that just needed adjustments it had been given the clearance by Highways structural engineer as strong and fit to cross the River Yeo.

The community bridge was paid for in 2020 by  landowners and the PC with a substantial part paid in kind by the fabricator and local builders, workmen as a community project linking the two villages.

We had just organised a structural engineer and divers to come and assess the weir for suitability to support the bridge when one morning in September it was ripped from site damaging the steel bridge and the capping stones to the weir it is now stored on a local farm.

Less than a week later Green Close was placed on the property market but they briefly mention the footpath running over the property which is still open right up to the lost bridge site.

This campaign is to raise awareness and support for the full restoration of the weir, the bridge and our 1000 year old RoW. Please help in voice or services to the Hinton weir and bridge group to achieve this by Spring.

The alternative walking route is along side the busy A359 with no pavement.  

The weir was rebuilt in 1801 by the engineer and geologist William Smith who was employed by the Goodford family to build a mill with 450 m of tunnel at Hinton. He was working on the Somerset Coal Canal at the time which is also being restored. He is best known around the world for drawing the first geological map of Great Britain.