'Unsuitable' bridge diversion in place until 2026

A footpath diversion put in place due to a shut bridge between Henley and Shiplake may have to stay until 2026.

National Trails said the closure was required on safety grounds and has been implemented by the Environment Agency.

But the diversion caused by the closure of the footbridge between Marsh Lock and Horsebridge has been described by a councillor as "totally unsuitable".

The route is via the Thames path to Mill Lane, Henley, and rejoins the Thames path near Lower Shiplake Station.

The 2.7-mile diversion takes most walkers more than an hour to complete and involves crossing the busy A4155 twice.

National Trails has warned walkers not to use the A4155 as there is no footway and it is a very fast road.

Councillor David Bartholomew, who represents Shiplake on Oxfordshire County Council, said he had been trying to resolve the bridge closure "for nearly three years".

"During the course of last year, the Environment Agency finally accepted responsibility and thus the matter moved outside my official remit," he said.

"However, I remain very concerned about the situation and am pursuing the issue in any helpful way I can."

Mr Bartholomew said the current timescale for repair work was "very depressing".

He added that, in the meantime, people were "forced" to take the "totally unsuitable" diversion.

An Environment Agency spokesman said the bridge was like "any structure and will not last forever" and engineering surveys revealed it needed "significant maintenance or replacement".

It said: "We fully appreciate the inconvenience of the closure, but we took that decision solely for the safety of the public.

"Like any publicly-funded body, we have to ensure value for the taxpayer. Decisions on the safest and most cost-effective options for Marsh Lock Horsebridge, to get it open again for local people, will be made as soon as possible."

You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.