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Calls to halt cycle bridge plan in Roman village

Tom MacDougallNorth East and Cumbria
News imageDavid Burdus A group of eight residents objecting the plans are huddled on the pavement on one side of Dilston Bridge. The picture was taken in winter as they are all in coats, some with scarfs and hats, and the trees in the background have no leaves. The bridge itself is single carriageway with the lanes split by a double white line designating no overtaking. There is a low (about waist height for an adult) grey brick wall on the far side which is the only one with a pavement. On the near side, only a small amount of wall is visible, with a mown grass verge before the bridge proper. In the distance the road bends to the right with a black and white arrow sign to show a steep turn.David Burdus
Dilston Bridge, built in 1788, is set to become a single lane for cars to make space for a cycle path

Residents of a hamlet that dates back to Roman times are calling for plans to install a cycle lane on their Grade-II listed bridge to be halted.

Northumberland County Council is to reduce the two-lane traffic flow on Dilston Bridge in Corbridge to a single lane, install traffic lights either side and use the newly-created space for the cycle path.

Some locals say the plans risk "urbanising" and "changing the character" of the village and cause congestion by creating a traffic bottleneck.

Campaigners want a heritage consultation over the plan, but the council said it was not required and the bridge itself was not being altered or demolished.

The bridge plan is part of a wider saga around a project to create a walking and cycling route between Hexham and Corbridge, which was approved in 2023 and is being paid for for by the then-government's Levelling Up Fund.

The council said it will "improve access to employment, education and transport hubs while supporting healthier, more sustainable travel choices".

News imageGoogle The view from Dilston Bridge, looking down over the wall. A low stream with stony banks flows between two bright green stretches of grass which slope downwards. There are trees on either bank but the right bank is particularly thick with them.Google
The site is known locally as the Bridge Over Devil's Water

Campaigner David Burdus, who has lived in Corbridge for 25 years, said objectors were not against active travel and he welcomed improved accessibility, particularly as he uses a powered wheelchair.

But he said: "We're not supportive of particular points along the route being historically destroyed.

"We're going to turn a free flow of movement into a stop, start, stop, start.

"It's going to cause havoc, pollution, and disturbance.

"This area is a visitor attraction and it relies on tourism and you're going to turn this beautiful hamlet into a road traffic bottleneck. There's no need."

He argued the number of listed buildings in the area, close to Hadrian's Wall, meant a heritage consultation should have been carried out and the council needed listed building consent.

The council said listed building status did not extend to the "character or setting" of a structure and it considered the active travel scheme to fall under Permitted Development rules laid out by the government.

It said it was required by government to prioritise active travel to improve public health and reduce pollution.

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