Posted on Tuesday 8th July 2025
Burston footbridge after it was successfully recovered from the river by Staffordshire County Council's engineers.
A damaged footbridge in Burston has now been successfully recovered and specialists are confident that it can be repaired.
The footbridge, part of the Sandon and Burston Public Footpath 36 and the Two Saints Way, had to close for everyone’s safety after it was found dislodged into the river.
Earlier this month, engineers from Staffordshire County Council recovered the bridge from the water. Following a detailed inspection, crews are optimistic that the existing structure can be repaired and reused, avoiding the need for a full replacement.
The bridge has now been dismantled so that it can be taken offsite for repair work. If further inspection reveals that a replacement is needed after all, the funding needed for this has already been secured to allow this to progress without delay.
A final decision on whether to repair or replace the bridge will be made by the end of July.
In the meantime, Footpath 36, between the river Trent and Burston Lane will remain closed to ensure public safety.
Darryl Eyers, Staffordshire County Council’s Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills said:
“It’s great to see real progress being made to restore the footbridge at Burston. Our teams have worked hard to recover the structure and initial signs are promising that it can be repaired with only minor work.
“We’re taking the bridge offsite now to start repairs but, even if a full replacement is needed, we’re ready and fully funded to move ahead. We’re committed to getting the bridge back in place and the footpath safely reopened before the end of the year.
“In the meantime, I’d like to thank local residents and walkers for their ongoing patience. Please respect the barriers and closure signage in place. We know it’s frustrating, but it’s there to keep everyone safe.”