Parish Clerk

Anyone who walks around Burston and Aston and even pilgrims who have walked Two Saints Way from Lichfield to Chester will be only too familiar with the bridge crossing the River Trent at Burston. It is in fact not the first bridge at this point on the river, it replaced an older wooden bridge in 1952.

The crossing is also used as an access point into the river for canoeists, paddle boarders and swimming dogs, to name but a few users.

Sadly a large willow tree growing right alongside the bridge fell into the river following storms in October last year where it lay for some time. This was reported to the relevant authorities with the hope that it would be removed as a matter of urgency as it was causing a build up of detritus behind it and was slowly damming the river, particularly in heavy rain.

Unfortunately nothing was done to remove the tree and in a period of particularly heavy rain there was such a build up of water behind the tree that the pressure actually moved the tree against the bridge and this pressure caused the bridge to be pushed off its foundation on its western bank into the river itself. The movement of the tree has opened up the river course again reducing the danger of flooding in the village but it now means that the footpath from Aston to Burston and the pilgrimage route can no longer be walked.

We are told by the authorities that the intention is to reinstate the bridge but that this will need considerable planning and expenditure. The work will need to be done in dry weather when the ground is hard enough to allow vehicular access, so it is hoped that this will be over Summer 2024, otherwise it will slip into 2025, disappointing many local people and pilgrims from further afield.

Sandon and Burston Parish Council are making representations to all of those authorities who have input into the situation and will update its website whenever there is news to report.