CAMPAIGNERS have claimed that National Highways is “wilfully” ignoring their concerns about a historic bridge.

They said the organisation, which has paused infilling and demolition work, is ignoring their concerns about filling in the Church Road bridge in Barcombe worth tonnes of concrete. The campaigners say it is a wildlife corridor and has “importance” to the community.

National Highways said the bridge has been monitored over the last 17 years and that undertaking further repairs “would be unlikely to address its fundamental instability issue”.

It said fractures in the 140-year-old bridge, which have been opening and closing over time, are increasing in “width and severity” which suggests that movement in the bridge is increasing.

The organisation told The Argus it was meeting Lewes District Council and East Sussex County Council to discuss residents' concerns next week.

Hazel Fell Rayner, campaign organiser, was disappointed by Highways England's response.

She said: "It's almost as though they didn’t read our letter. It looks like a stock response in which they wilfully ignore the bridge’s importance to the community, especially its wildlife significance.

The Argus: 176 locals signed a letter against the infilling of the bridge.176 locals signed a letter against the infilling of the bridge.

“Blocking a wildlife corridor in the middle of a climate emergency and biodiversity crisis is an absolutely crazy thing to do, even on paper.

“It makes no rational sense and noone can see a reason anyone would want to do this unless they’re just ticking boxes and wanting to be rid of the responsibility.

“National Highways should feel honoured to be looking after our railway heritage - it’s something really precious. And yet they seem determined to destroy it, whatever the cost.”

Last month, 176 Barcombe residents signed a letter to National Highways, setting out their concerns over the scheme, which involves the felling of six mature trees and filling underneath the bridge with an estimated 1,000 tonnes of aggregate and concrete.

But Highways England’s letter of response focused on the lack of “future rail plans” on the bridge, which is on a derelict section of track between Lewes and East Grinstead, and the residents say it has ignored their concerns about the ecological impact.

The Argus: A woman looking at the 140-year-old bridge.A woman looking at the 140-year-old bridge.

Dr Niall Burnside, a landscape ecologist, said: “Things like roads, wall structures and buildings - those can be insurmountable barriers to some species in their movement throughout the landscape.

"So something such as Barcombe bridge - set within the landscape in what appears quite a remote and secluded area - this would encourage the movement of species.

“Infilling this bridge - infilling other bridges - needs to be looked at very, very carefully and whatever measures can be put in place to avoid it, should be."

The Argus: The controversial Great Musgrave bridge in Cumbria which was infilled.The controversial Great Musgrave bridge in Cumbria which was infilled.

Helene Rossiter, head of historical railways estate programme for Highways England, told The Argus: “The Historical Railways Estate (HRE) is an important part of our industrial heritage.

"Any infill plans at Barcombe bridge in East Sussex are part of a national pause on infilling and demolition activity across the HRE.

"This has been put in place to give local authorities and interest groups more time to fully consider structures as part of their local active travel plans for walking, cycling and heritage railways.

“We have no plans to proceed with infilling at this time, and will use this pause to speak to all stakeholders and interested parties about their concerns.”

Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01273 021 400.