Anger over closure of Newcastle bridge as locals fears being cut off all summer

A pedestrian bridge into the beloved green space from the rear of Dene Terrace was closed around six months ago due to safety concerns.

Newcastle City Council bosses say they are yet to make a decision on the future of the bridge, but the lack of progress since last September has left residents fearing the worst.

Alex Slack, who lives in Dene Terrace, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the crossing had become a “bit of an eyesore” and expressed concerns that children and dog walkers will not have easy access to the park throughout the spring and summer.

A council inspection report obtained under a freedom of information request reveals that a replacement of the bridge deck had been advised in 2014.

Its steel structure dates back to the late 1940s or early 1950s and, after it was closed in 1998 due to being deemed unsafe then, a wooden walkway was constructed on top of the existing deck as what was meant to be a “short-term solution”.

The inspection last year raised concerns over “extensive corrosion”, rotting timber, and significant trip hazards on the 17m bridge.

Mr Slack said that the loss of the bridge was “in conflict” with the Ouse Burn Way vision adopted by Newcastle City Council last week, which aims for a major regeneration of the river with enhanced footpaths and cycleways.

He added: “Dene Terrace has lots of children on the street, ranging from toddlers to teenagers/ there are probably 11 or 12 kids here. As we get into spring and simmer, we will often spend time out the back as a community with the kids roaming into the dene, doing bits of forest school, and so on.

“We just worry that the bridge is going to remain like this all summer. There are elderly people on our street, there are people who walk their dogs in the dene.

“From the perspective of owning a property here, having access to the dene was what attracted us to buy a house here.”

The Dene Terrace bridge closure came just weeks after the closure of another bridge in the dene, in Cherry Tree Walk, which also remains shut.

A council spokesperson said: “Since the transfer of the management of Parks and Allotments back into the council, we have been assessing maintenance requirements across all of the Parks estate and this work is ongoing. Action was immediately taken to close the bridge at the rear of Dene Terrace, as a safety precaution following a structural survey.

“We acknowledge local residents’ concerns and the inconvenience of the bridge closure, however Jesmond Dene remains accessible a short distance away at Castle Farm bridge. No decisions have been taken on the future of the bridge and we are continuing to assess potential options for the site as part of the wider assessment of all parks assets. Once a decision is made, plans for the site will be communicated to residents.

“We are currently carrying out full assessments to determine the viability and scope of the required works. Projects of this nature particularly those over water are complex and involve coordination with planning teams, external agencies, and specialist contractors before any decisions can be made.”