Bridge restrictions worry farmers

There are more than 2,000 bridges on roads in Powys

Farmers in mid Wales say they are worried about their survival in the wake of tens of small bridges being targeted for weight restrictions.

Powys Council has a £11m backlog for repairing many of the 2,000 bridges on its roads.

Some farmers claim the three and seven-and-a-half tonne restrictions being put on weak bridges will endanger their livelihoods.

They say restrictions will stop them from taking their animals to market or get deliveries from suppliers - and in some cases they will be forced to break the law.

I have no choice but to carry on using this bridge or lose my business Bill Bridgewater

A three tonne weight restriction was placed on the road leading to Bill Bridgewater's 800 acre sheep and beef farm at Rhulen, near Builth Wells just before Christmas.

"I am having to break the law because my Landrover and trailer weighs five tonnes, as does my tractor," he said.

"Delivery lorries carrying feed to farms and oil to 12 homes in this area are also breaking the law.

"I have no choice but to carry on using this bridge or lose my business.

"But I already know of one supplier who refuses to break the weight restriction because of insurance problems."

More than 30 weight restrictions were placed on 'unsafe' bridges across the county in 2003.

Mr Bridgwater claims even his tractor is too heavy for the bridge

And with the list of unsafe bridges set to grow, the council has warned that some will not be repaired until 2025 because of a £11m backlog of road repairs.

A council spokesman said: "We have a long list of bridges that need strengthening work done to them at a cost of £11m.

"Bridge closures have had to be introduced as a matter of public safety."

At present four bridges have been closed and 84 permanent or temporary weight restrictions have been introduced.

"We realise these restrictions are causing difficulty to farmers because feed has to be delivered in bulk."

The spokesman quoted an example where £150,000 had to be taken from next year's budget to pay for repairs to one bridge.

"We had to carry out emergency repairs as soon as possible because the closure of that bridge involved a 30 mile detour," he said.

A National Farmers' Union spokesman said: "We are very concerned to hear that farm businesses in Powys are suffering because the local authority has fallen behind with bridge repairs.

"By their very nature, farms are dependent on heavy vehicles such as tractors and lorries, and need unfettered access to the roads.

"They have no option but to use bridges that have temporarily been given a lower weight limit.

By failing to repair bridges, farmers and those that provide services to them are being put in a "very invidious position", said the spokesman.