Decision made on Evesham's Hampton Bridge project

Councillors said the Hampton Bridge will ease congestion in the town and encourage residents to get out of their cars.

The bridge will link footpaths on either side of the River Avon between the Pershore Road and Evesham Leisure Centre.

Plans show how the bridge will connect the leisure centre site to the Pershore Road (Image: Burroughs)

The idea was first mooted back in 2014 as part of developer Bellway’s plan to build hundreds of homes in Hampton.

Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet backed the proposals in 2021 but the project still needed the green light from planners in order to get off the ground.

Members of the council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee visited the site on Monday (March 18).

In Tuesday’s meeting (March 19) they were told the aim of the bridge is to provide connectivity between the east and west sides of the river for pedestrians and cyclists, minimising their daily interactions with motorised traffic.

The bridge will be 84 metres long and 3.5 metres wide. It will have a “weathering steel, rust-like appearance” and have handrail lighting that dims overnight.

A total of 15 trees will need to be cut down in order to make way for the bridge but more than 60 will be planted across the site.

Plans are also in the works for a new toucan crossing on the Pershore Road, to help create a safe pedestrian route into town.

Cllr Linda Robinson said: “This will encourage people to get out of their cars and it will be accessible in times of flooding.

“It will also help to relieve traffic congestion, which can get so bad in Evesham.”

Cllr Martin Allen agreed the bridge would help encourage residents to walk into Evesham rather than drive.

“I’d like the administration to keep a handle on the cost,” he added, “we don’t want this ending up like the Kepax bridge.”

According to the planning application, up to 1,100 walkers and 100 cyclists are expected to use the bridge each day - that’s 278,300 pedestrians and 25,300 cyclists per year.