HEAVY equipment has been moved in ready for work to begin to repair a partially collapsed medieval bridge.
The repair of Powick Old Bridge moved a step closer as the vital equipment was moved close to the site, ready for work to start.
Although no work appears to have taken place to the bridge itself so far, assurances have been given that extensive preparation work has been underway for the last fortnight.
Work to the bridge was set to begin a fortnight ago, on Monday, July 29. The grade I listed structure is considered an integral part of Worcestershire's Civil War history.
Jon Fraser of Worcestershire County Council Highways said: "There have been extensive two weeks’ worth of work establishing a compound at the Powick Old Bridge site, in the car park off Powick Roundabout near Hams Way Bridge.
"This has included bringing material to site to raise the ground level so that the site cabins are above the flood level. Numerous items of plant and equipment have been brought to site and some public right of way diversions have been established.
Works will start to strip back vegetation around the bridge site from Wednesday this week."
Powick Old Bridge suffered a partial collapse at the end of January after successive storms brought flood water and, with it, mountains of driftwood crashing against the ancient structure.
The bridge was the scene of the Battle of Powick Bridge on September 23, 1642, the opening skirmish of the English Civil War, and also featured heavily in its last decisive engagement, the Battle of Worcester on September 3, 1651.
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Paul Harding of Discover History is a longstanding campaigner for the bridge's repair and preservation for future generations.
Mr Harding said: "We have delivered several battlefield walks over the summer so far, and we have been explaining the situation to the groups we have had.
"They are really saddened to see the bridge in this way, and do look forward to seeing the finished work.
"We have a few more battlefield walks in the run up to September, and we look forward to seeing the stabilising work, eventually making way for the restoration work. This important monument deserves the best work possible. Not many counties have a bridge as old as this one. Future generations need this 'bridge' to the past."
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