Local MPs have backed Staffordshire County Council's bid to secure government funding for Chetwynd Bridge, a Grade 2* listed structure near Alrewas that serves as a critical gateway to the National Memorial Arboretum.
The council will submit the bridge for funding through the government's new Structures Fund, a scheme designed to help councils repair and replace key structures in their areas. The estimated cost of the replacement scheme is around £27 million.
Strong bid prepared
Peter Mason, Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways, said the council has completed a feasibility study and produced modelling for the new structure's design.
"This scheme represents a vital investment in both infrastructure and heritage, ensuring safe and reliable access to the Arboretum and supporting the wider local and regional economy," Mason said.
MP support
Dave Robertson, MP for Lichfield, Burntwood & the villages, described Chetwynd Bridge as the largest cast iron bridge in the country and said its replacement is urgent to make it fit for modern use.
"Following discussions I held alongside fellow MPs with Department for Transport ministers, the fund will enable councils to seek funding for replacement bridges," Robertson said.
Sarah Edwards, MP for Tamworth, said the bridge is vital to local logistics and farming communities, and that restoring it would help remove costs and provide a route to ease flooding impacts on rural areas.
Next steps
The final bid for Chetwynd Bridge will be submitted to the Structures Fund in early August.