£50,000 bridge repair costs being recovered from driver’s insurance
The bridge in Lydney was originally damaged during storm Bert in November 2024
Some £50,000 in costs to repair a Gloucestershire town bridge damaged by a driver who reportedly ignored a road closure are being recovered from his insurer.
Storm Bert wreaked havoc on Lydney in the Forest of Dean last November.
It led to houses being evacuated, 52 properties and 32 businesses being flooded and damage to a bridge that took months to repair.
The Newerne Street Bridge, in the centre of the Severnside town, also sustained significant damage in the crash which happened early last December where a man was rushed to hospital.
The bridge was fully closed from November 24 after Storm Bert and the collision until January, when it reopened under temporary traffic lights.
The bridge reopened fully in June and Gloucestershire Highways’ repairs to the bridge are complete.
The parapet was fully rebuilt and the damaged wingwall repaired.
A report presented to Forest of Dean District Council last month highlighted that most of the £50,000 cost to repair the Newerne Street Bridge will be recovered from the driver’s insurance company.
The report was commissioned after councillors r aised concerns over the authority’s response to the emergency.
Officers explained at meeting on July 17 what had been learnt from the flooding devastation.
Response plans have since been reviewed, a new emergency response team and liaison roles have been established within the District Council, and people have been contacted.