CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating that the future of a link bridge and footway in Llanfair Caereinion has been secured.

Powys County Council has committed to maintaining the Banwy Industrial Estate and Glanyrafon link bridge after it was approved at a Cabinet meeting on April 10.

Following recommendations of a report by County Councillor Phyl Davies, the Highways, Transport and Recycling Service will be responsible for repairing and ensuring the bridge and footway is safe for public use.

The footway will be added to the list of streets as a “pedestrian highway maintainable at public expense” after being used by the community for more than 20 years.

County Councillor Gareth Jones, elected member for the ward of Llanfair Caereinion, said: “This is progress after many years, at long last. We’ve been fighting for this for a while.

“The footpath is constructed from hardwood decking, it is in desperate need of a pressure wash, for safety reasons, and a few of the planks will need replacing.

“I spoke to Cabinet Member for Highways, Councillor Phyl Davies, a few months ago about the bridge and agreed that a structural engineer’s report would give a clear picture of the bridge’s state of repair.”

The report stated three options: do nothing, assign responsibility to Property or Countryside Services or assign responsibility to the Highways’ Service area. The latter was recommended by the report.

It said: “The highway service has undertaken some safety repairs on a non-prejudicial basis but the bridge and paths are not included in any routine inspection or maintenance programmes.

“With the bridge now over 25 years old it is important that it is incorporated into appropriate regular programmes. A condition assessment of the bridge or paths has not been undertaken but it is likely that significant work will now be required to maintain their integrity. Determining future responsibility will place additional immediate and ongoing financial burden.”