Village fears reopened bridge is only a short-term fix

Residents and business owners in Kilrea have raised concerns over the lack of long-term plans for a crucial bridge across the River Bann.

The bridge in the village closed in September after cracks were found in a retaining wall, and reopened to cars and other light vehicles earlier this month after temporary repairs.

It is expected to reopen fully by mid-February, with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) adding there were no other structural concerns or plans to replace the bridge.

Agnieszka McIntyre, who owns a restaurant nearby, said while business and footfall has improved since the bridge reopened, temporary repairs only acted as a “sticking plaster”.

“That bridge was built over 200 years ago for horses and carts, not for lorries,” Mrs McIntyre said.

“What we need is to feel safe, to feel like it’s not going to happen again.

Mrs McIntyre said the reopening of the village’s bridge was a relief, but an ongoing issue remains over the length of time it takes deliveries in larger vehicles to reach the restaurant as they are still being diverted.

She has fears the bridge, which was previously closed for more than a month in 2022, would not remain open permanently.

“Yes we know that Kilrea is not a big place, but it’s not all about Kilrea, so we need a new bridge,” she added.

“I appreciate it’s going to be a massive investment to build a new bridge. But in the long run, it’s going to be a benefit and not just to us in Kilrea.”

Some business owners have also told BBC News NI that they felt ignored by politicians at Stormont and criticised the lack of financial support for traders.

Kenny Bradley, who owns a shop and fuel station in Kilrea, said his business saw a 30% drop in food sales and a 50% decrease in food-to-go sales since the closure.

He said the reopening of the bridge had brought an increase in trade but estimated it would be another year before things returned to normal.

“We’re happy to see it and I suppose the major concern is how long will it last before something like this happens again,” he said.

“It’s a 1700s historical piece of infrastructure.

“I don’t know why we’re having to lobby for common sense, the common sense logical approach is build a new bridge.”

The bridge was originally constructed in 1783 and is a listed structure.

It connects Kilrea with the eastern bank of the Bann and places such as Rasharkin and Dunloy.

Mr Bradley added he was frustrated at a lack of financial support for businesses.

The infrastructure and community ministers both told the Northern Ireland Assembly their departments were not responsible for compensation in such cases.

The infrastructure minister told the assembly her department did not offer compensation for “pure economic loss resulting from the exercise of its statutory duty to maintain the public road network”.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons told the assembly his department was not responsible for small settlements such as Kilrea with a population under 5,000.

The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs told BBC News NI it was also not responsible.

“The feeling is we have just been left,” Mr Bradley said.

“If this was happening in Belfast or Newry or anywhere else they’d have been all over it.

“We’ve been passed around, nobody’s taken any responsibility.

“This is an issue for all smaller towns or villages across the province where if something like this happens none of the departments are willing to step up and take responsibility.

Ciara McErlean from one of the pharmacies in the village shared Mr Bradley’s sentiment.

“We feel like we’ve been left on an island, that’s what it’s like,” she said.

Martin McKenna from the pharmacy said a new bridge was the only long-term solution.

“I don’t think anybody can guarantee that this existing structure is going to be able to continue to do its job, so I think the only thing is a new bridge,” he added.

A spokesperson for the DfI said there were no plans to replace the bridge or build a new bridge alongside it.

They said any plans for a new bridge at a different location were set out in local transport plans, which were informed by councils’ local development plans.

The Causeway Coast and Glens local development plan, which covers Kilrea, is to be published in late 2026 for public consultation.

“We will continue to carry out inspections and take forward any priority repairs, when necessary, as with any other highway structure,” the spokesperson said.