Footbridges may look simple, but they carry significant responsibility.
They must be safe for everyone — children, cyclists, older residents, and people with mobility challenges.
Compliance isn’t a bureaucratic box-tick; it’s a moral obligation.
Modern compliance for footbridges focuses on ramps, height, handrails, gradients, and surfaces to meet standards that keep everyone safe.
But the environment, both built or natural, poses further challenges for those clever engineers who have responsibility for designing them, and that’s where common sense and local knowledge come in.
The planned footbridge at Wyndham Road has been designed to fit our local environment and community needs.
On paper, it is not quite compliant gradient-wise, but is the same as the current one and much better than those in the closest underpasses which would be the alternative route.
And we are very grateful that the National Highways engineers and officials were able to create this for us.
Believe me, after spending many hours working with them, I know that it has not been an easy task, but they rose to the challenge and have been able to get this slightly non-compliant footbridge approved.
The National Highways Communications Van will be in the Wyndham Road area on Friday, May 15, from 07.30am and in The Guildhall Square on Saturday, May 16, from 9.30am to 1.30pm.
You will be able to chat with the engineers and view the plans; your views and comments will be collated by Salisbury City Council.
Please come and visit the van and make your views known.
The Footbridges of Salisbury Working Group, comprising of myself, local residents Paul Russell and Ian Southwell, Justin Wright (DIGS), Margaret Willmott (COGS), Councillor John Wells, John Glen MP, and Chris Hilldrup and Mike Dearden (National Highways), together with representatives from Wiltshire Council and local schools, are excited for the future of our footbridges.
Sharon Rideout, City Councillor for St. Francis and Stratford Ward, Salisbury
