Bedford councillors have clashed over Queen’s Bridge after inspection reports released under Freedom of Information showed rot and timber deterioration being recorded years before the crossing was closed amid safety concerns.
The five-span foot and cycle bridge, built from Ekki hardwood, crosses the River Great Ouse between Queen’s Park and Kempston. It was shut in August 2025 following a safety inspection, which identified significant decay and warned of a risk of sudden failure.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service submitted an FOI request in December seeking structural inspection reports, principal inspections, general inspections and condition assessments for the bridge from January 2019 to 2025.
Read: Council confirms Queen’s Bridge must be replaced after unsafe timber discovered
It also requested correspondence or briefing papers relating to the bridge’s structural condition in the 12 months before its closure.
Inspection history
A principal inspection in November 2014 recorded rot and fungi near the crowns of both arches, as well as deterioration affecting parts of the U-shaped frames supporting the central span deck from the arches.
Recommended works included removing vegetation, investigating the extent of rot, completing refurbishment measures, and addressing deck defects such as raised planks.
A general inspection in 2019 described the structure as being in a “FAIR condition” and recorded areas of rot in timber arch beams and vegetation growth on timber elements.
It listed remedial actions, including resin injection or replacement of timber arch beams where rot was evident, and said that a structural assessment should be conducted to determine whether the U-shaped frames fully support the arch beams as designed.
A further general inspection in July 2022 noted “almost total erosion of existing preservative” and recorded defects including splits in timber beams, section loss at bolt connections at one U-frame, and loose deck planks identified for repair.
An engineer’s comment described the structure as being in a “satisfactory” condition, while noting exceptions.
Why it closed
A council technical note records that a safety inspection was carried out on Thursday, 21 August 2025.
It states that significant decay was found at the crown hinge or joint of the eastern timber arch, with material loss measured to a depth of 250mm and exposed threads on bolted connections.
The note warns that, in its current condition, the joint could fail suddenly, potentially resulting in partial collapse. It recommended that the bridge be closed to the public with immediate effect.
A council options report dated 13 October 2025 says the bridge was “immediately closed” following the August inspection, with clamps proposed as safeguarding measures while options were developed.
The same report states, “Considering its age, the bridge is approaching the end of its serviceable life,” adding that a bridge of this type typically has a serviceable life of 40 to 50 years, depending on maintenance intervention and location.
Political row
In a statement provided to the LDRS, Conservative cllr Marc Frost said Queen’s Bridge “did not deteriorate suddenly” and claimed it had been allowed to run with “minimal capital investment for well over a decade”.
He alleged annual spending between 2011 and 2023 was “negligible”, creating what he described as a “cumulative structural risk” without a funded replacement strategy.
Cllr Frost also said the current administration increased inspections and interventions after taking office in May 2023, and argued that professional inspections before 2025 recommended targeted repairs and monitoring rather than immediate replacement.
The former Liberal Democrat administration was approached for comment on those claims. A Bedford Liberal Democrat Group spokesperson said: “This sounds like an excuse to me.
“In fact, the council’s own press office confirmed only last month that the bridge was ‘regularly maintained’.”
The LDRS asked the council why a replacement scheme was not developed sooner, as a council press release said the bridge was “reaching the end of its expected life”. At the time of publication, the council had not responded.
By John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter
Edited by Paul Hutchinson, Bedford Independent
