Gurkhas are all set to restore historic bridge

THE historic North Stoke suspension footbridge, a vital link for walkers, is to be restored in works over the summer, being carried out by the Gurkhas.

By The Newsroom

Published 28th Apr 2009, 15:16 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 04:14 BST

The bridge was badly damaged last year by a falling oak tree, resulting in the closure of the footpath.

West Sussex County Council discovered that replacement of the footbridge with a modern structure would have cost 50,000, while estimates for its restoration were in the region of 100,000 for its restoration.

The Amberley Society was alerted to the situation by keen walker Tim Ralph of Ashington, who told the society the county council was planning to demolish the bridge and replace it with a modern bridge.

Amberley Society chairman Grahame Joseph said: "The bridge was a well-known landmark. It had been there since at least the 1940s and was very special and no-one wanted to see it replaced by a modern version."

For full story see West Sussex Gazette April 29