Villagers 'cut off' after sudden bridge closure

Residents in a section of a North York Moors village say they feel "completely cut off" from the rest of the community after a key bridge was closed suddenly due to structural concerns.

Grosmont suspension bridge, which spans the Murk Esk, connects a number of properties to the south of the waterway to the rest of the small community.

"Friends and neighbours and the pub and the shop, the Co-Op, which we all use and love, we just can't get to it," said Alex Wilson, who runs The Old School Coffee Shop in the village.

North Yorkshire Council said structural issues on the underside of the bridge had "rapidly deteriorated" since the last inspection and now affected the support it provided.

It is thought the closure, which began on Thursday, could remain in place until November but the council said they planned to install a temporary footbridge before "as soon as possible".

"I'm looking at giving people refunds because the only access [before any temporary bridge] is really a very long way around and not suitable for people arriving with kids and luggage," said David Brownbridge, owner of Applegarth Holiday Cottage, which is also isolated by the closure.

"It was a real surprise and a shock to have the closure, rather than to have a bit of notice," he added.

The closure means people looking to access the affected properties on the southern side of the bridge need to take a 30-minute detour on foot.

"You could easily break your ankle down there," said Mrs Wilson.

"It's not an easily accessible route with a stretcher or a means of carrying somebody out of there, it's just barmy," she added.

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