ASHFORD LANE FOOTBRIDGE – COMPLETE STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE
Dorney Parish Council – Resident Information
🚨 URGENT SAFETY WARNING
The Ashford Lane Footbridge collapsed into the Jubilee River during the night of 26 June 2025. The area remains extremely dangerous with submerged debris and unstable remaining structure. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ACCESS THE SITE.
IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERNS
⚠️ CRITICAL – SUMMER HOLIDAYS SAFETY WARNING ⚠️
With school summer holidays beginning, we urgently remind all residents, particularly parents of young people, that:
- The river now contains dangerous submerged debris from the collapsed bridge
- Sharp metal and timber fragments pose serious injury risks to swimmers
- The remaining structure is unstable and could collapse further
- Historical jumping spots are now extremely hazardous
- Underwater entrapment risks exist from submerged framework
KEEP CHILDREN AWAY FROM THE ENTIRE AREA
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WHAT THE PARISH COUNCIL IS DOING
Immediate Actions Taken:
✅ Formal notification sent to Buckinghamshire Council (27 June 2025)
✅ Environment Agency notified of river contamination
✅ Police advised
✅Requested 48-hour response for emergency safety measures
✅ Called for immediate debris removal from river
Requests to Buckinghamshire Council:
• Comprehensive site securing
• Complete debris clearance from river
• Emergency safety patrols during summer holidays
• Commitment to 120-year replacement (not short-term fixes)
ACCOUNTABILITY AND NEXT STEPS
The Facts:
• This collapse was entirely predictable
• Expert reports from July 2024 clearly warned of imminent failure
• Buckinghamshire Council failed to act on professional recommendations
• Inadequate security measures ignored for over 18 months
Our Position:
The Parish Council categorically rejects any replacement with less than a 120-year design life. This community deserves infrastructure built to last, not the failed approach that saw the original bridge collapse after just 25 years.
What We’re Fighting For:
1. Immediate safety measures for summer period
2. Complete debris removal from river
3. 120-year weathering steel replacement as recommended by experts
4. Proper project timeline with committed funding
5. Accountability for this infrastructure failure
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TIMELINE OF EVENTS
26 June 2025 – BRIDGE COLLAPSE
Complete structural collapse into Jubilee River overnight
• No injuries reported (bridge was closed)
• Collapse was predictable given expert warnings
• Site now presents extreme danger to public
December 2024
DPC Freedom of Information response confirmed:
• Temporary closure orders extended until June 2025
• Repair timeline estimated at “over 6 months”
• Current deterrent measures insufficient
• Evidence of continued public access despite closure
July 2024 – Expert Recommendations
AtkinsRéalis engineering report recommended:
• Option 4: Full Replacement with Weathering Steel (120-year design life)
• Immediate enhanced closure measures
• Warning that bridge would remain closed “for at least 12 months until funding secured”
July 2024
Comprehensive structural assessment commissioned by Buckinghamshire Council revealed:
• Bridge Condition Index: Critical score 0.00 (from 55.48 in 2021)
• Complete failure of main deck timbers in southern span
• “Very Poor” overall condition
• Inadequate closure measures allowing continued unauthorized access
December 22, 2023
Bridge closed by emergency order due to structural failure in southern span