Council confirms bats will delay bridge work

Work on Cilgwrgan Bridge at Aberbechan is to be delayed until the autumn after nesting bats were found under the structure, Powys County Council has today confirmed.

Yesterday, MyNewtown reported on claims that bats could affect the timing of work on the bridge after Montgomeryshire AM Russell George said he understood the Environment Agency had also raised concerns about the impact of work on fish.

The bridge, at Aberbechan, forms a link from the A483 trunk road to Bettws and a route into the Llanllwchaiarn side of Newtown. It was closed last year after engineers found structural defects.

It is understood that the pressure of traffic and two severe winters had caused damage.

The route has been used by motorists as a ‘short cut’ into Newtown following the traffic chaos in the town caused by new traffic lights and the building of the Tesco supermarket.

Work was expected to start reparing the bridge in the summer. However, Powys County Council confirmed today that work had been delayed.

Cllr Geraint Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulation, said: “Initial surveys of Cilgwrgan Bridge, Aberbechan did not reveal a presence of protected species but a more detailed survey before work started has identified nesting bats within the structure of the bridge.

“This has restricted the council in carrying out the work, which will now be delayed until the autumn.

“We are currently assessing the impact this now has and how the work can be scheduled to re-establish access across the bridge before the winter.”