A LOTTERY bid of nearly £1.76m could pave the way to finally reopen an old railway bridge used to walk across the Wye, but it might take at least another three years.

Stowfield Viaduct, or the Black Bridge, was closed two years ago owing to safety fears and needs a seven-figure sum to repair it.

The 149-year-old bridge is a vital link between Lydbrook and Welsh Bicknor for locals, who now have to take a six-mile detour via Huntsham or Kerne bridges, while more than 20,000 walkers a year have used it as part of the 136-mile Wye Valley Walk.

A Heritage Lottery bid has been submitted for initial funding of £97,900 to develop a repair plan, jointly prepared by the Black Bridge Steering Group, the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire councils and construction company Amey.

The bid has concentrated on enhancing the historic bridge for future generations, restoring pedestrian access and developing community projects connected to the structure and its heritage.

If successful, the funding would see plans developed, with the full design then submitted to the Lottery to fund construction work and community support projects totalling £1.67m between October 2019 and May 2021.

Local people have used the bridge to cross for generations, dating back to the age of steam trains, but rotting plans and decking meant it had to be closed. It has also attracted thousands of ramblers following in the footsteps of artist JMW Turner and poet William Wordsworth. 

Forest councillor Sid Phelps (Green, Lydbrook and Ruardean), of the Black Bridge Steering Group, said: “Our group and the communities on both sides of the river are very pleased that the Lottery bid has been successfully submitted, thanks to much work by the Wye Valley AONB and council officers.

“We’re keeping our fingers and toes crossed for the bid to restore the bridge, so that this important strategic crossing can reopen as soon as possible”.

Cllr Vernon Smith, Gloucestershire cabinet member for highways, said: “We really want to conserve the Lydbrook Bridge and enhance it for generations to come.

“Money from the Lottery Heritage Fund would help us get it repaired and open once again. We’d also like to celebrate its heritage in the local community.”

A decision on the first bid is expected to be received from the Heritage Lottery Fund at the end of June.