We have objected to plans to replace the historic Boxted bridge over the River Stour in North Essex, in support of a local campaign to protect the structure. Essex Highways has proposed demolishing the bridge and replacing it with a wider one.
Boxted bridge is in the heart of the Dedham Vale, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is a steel girder bridge built in 1897 and an important part of the waterways heritage of the area. The river is popular for navigation by small craft such as canoes and paddleboards.
Replacing the bridge with a new and much wider bridge would be harmful to the setting of Boxted Mill. It would result in loss of a structure of intrinsic historic significance.
Alongside the community, we feel that the bridge should be repaired and retained, not replaced.
