There are four separate reports on FixMyStreet relating to the deteriorating surface of the footbridge over the River Ock, which links the Ock Valley Walk to the rear entrance of Tower Close. Taken together, they point to a structure that has been unsafe for at least six months.

Reports dating back to August 2025 describe exposed boards, widening gaps and broken sections of decking on what is not only a footbridge but also part of a cycle route. By December, one walker reported their foot going through the bridge deck, noting that holes ‘regularly appear’ and describing the bridge as being in a ‘dire condition’. A further report later that month warned of a 20 cm square hole in the centre of the bridge, with the surrounding surface bouncing freely, suggesting that there was little or no support beneath. The repeated use of heavy-duty plastic coverings appears to have been a temporary measure, masking rather than resolving the underlying deterioration.

When I went over the bridge today, there was again an exposed hole in the deck, clearly visible, A foot could easily slip through the surface.

Yesterday, a concerned parent told me that this bridge is used by numerous schoolchildren every school day and asked me to put it on the blog. He said concerns have apparently been raised directly with district councillors but there has been no effective response. The bridge is the responsibility of Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC).