Colchester footbridge fenced off after large sinkhole found

One of Colchester’s busiest public footpaths, Middle Mill Road footbridge, was closed on Thursday after the hole appeared.

Colchester Council is then believed to have contacted Essex County Council, which has since been carrying out a structural inspection of the bridge but it is feared the damage is more severe than first anticipated.

The bridge was closed soon after the sinkhole was found

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that Lower Castle Park is the venue for the Smoke and Fire Festival over the weekend, with Kings Meadow being used as the main car park for the event.

Visitors are likely to be diverted towards a much narrower bridge, close to Colchester and East Essex Cricket Club, to cross the River Colne into Lower Castle Park.

Councillor Mark Goacher, who represents the Green party for Castle Ward, explained talks are now taking place between the council and the cricket club to allow for the diversion to remain in place whilst the repairs are carried out by Essex County Council.

Read more:

• Pub 'disappointed' to cancel event after several noise complaints from neighbours

• In pictures: Islanders make a splash at annual regatta event on Mersea Island

• Revealed: Superdrug and Mountain Warehouse to open at Stane Park in Stanway

He said: “It sounds like the bridge is in a bit of a state – it’s a shame we’ve got to this stage without someone noticing it before.

“There’s a sinkhole in it which is why it is fenced off – workers from Essex County Council have been out and I think they have found out what the problems are with it.

“As far as I know, this has come up recently, [although] the bridge did look a bit rickety – it just seems to be a bit of a pattern, that bridges are in a bit of a state, particularly when the East Street Bridge had potholes all over it.

“It seems like it might take quite a while to fix it, but hopefully the cricket club will make it as easy as possible.”