Teston Bridge Closure

The closure of a bridge for repairs is causing major headaches for the thousands of motorists who rely on it each week

But worse may be yet to come for those who regularly use Teston Bridge near Maidstone.
 It is one of the county’s busiest but arguably prettiest bridges with its half dozen ragstone arches and gentle curve.
Thought to be up to 600 years old, it may have once carried goods into Maidstone,  transported animals, harvests, local people or the odd pilgrim going about their lives.
Apart from a band of corn robbers being cornered and arrested on Teston Bridge in 1596, little of note has happened here.
But historian John Balston noted in a paper in 1978: “No doubt there have been countless romances and tragedies which have occurred within its recesses or over its parapets…”
Today, Teston Bridge has never been so important as it carries an estimated 30,000 vehicles a month  – no official statistics exist, says Kent County Council – although locals may well dispute that as on the low side.
It’s as delightful a crossing as might be found anywhere in Kent and is enjoyed as a backdrop by the users of the popular and well-used Teston Bridge Country Park nearby.
For drivers day to day, the grade one listed structure connects Lower Road in West Farleigh and Tonbridge Road (A26) and is used by motorists swerving the increasing nightmare that is the county town’s roads.
Its single double-yellow lined track relies on motorists anticipating what another vehicle coming in the opposite direction may do but, according to locals, it works well most of the time.
What cannot be factored in are the drivers who smash into the bridge.

Its closure has been leading to major detours, causing one mother to spend up to two hours on the school run – a journey that should take more than ten or 15 minutes.
But if they thought it is bad now, there is worse ahead as access to alternative bridges nearby are likely to be out of action, too.
Sarah Hudson, chairperson of Wateringbury Parish council, who is also a local borough and county councillor, says the closure of East Farleigh Bridge on November 1 and Bow Hill approach to Wateringbury from October 30 will serve to compound a major headache.
Part of the problem about using an ancient bridge for modern transport is the length of time it takes to repair when it gets damaged.
The work to repair the structure is long and painstaking as only suitable stone and lime mortar can be used, said Cllr Hudson.
The bridge may not be open again until mid-November at the earliest, weather permitting, and early December if all does not go to plan.
She added: “It is having a significant impact on local people, not to mention the people who don’t live locally but use the bridge each day.
“The bridge closure for some people has been horrendous – school runs taking two hours instead of 15 or 20 minutes.
“The other day, my school run took an hour-and-a-half. It’s made worse by the volume of traffic on the roads and closures or traffic lights for road works. Yet everyone knows it has to be done.”
She acknowledges that, from a distance, the area being worked on appears quite small, although the damage extends down the face of the bridge to just above the flood arch, which is invisible from the road.
But parapet stones had to be reclaimed from the bank, where they fell after impact, and assessed as reusable or not, before the erection of scaffolding to start repairs.
For Julie Allen, who has lived for 33 years a few miles up the road in Coxheath, the bridge is literally a lifeline to her oncology appointments at Maidstone Hospital.
Mrs Allen, who has secondary breast cancer, now anticipates her journey times will quadruple to an hour.
She said: “We’ve got to be honest – the bridges across the Medway are not fit for purpose. They haven’t changed in hundreds of years.
“Personally, I think that we should be think of putting in another one but I have no idea where to put it.
“Because the roads are so busy these days and everyone starts to get frustrated and then they start to drive more recklessly, this last year is the worst I can remember.
“You don’t realise the amount of traffic that comes over Teston Bridge until it’s been shut.”
Cllr Simon Webb, who represents Maidstone Rural West at KCC, said his in-box is full of complaints, not least because of roadworks in nearby Vicarage Lane and Dean Street which have made matters even worse.
But bridge closures should only be considered if there are appropriate risk assessments in place first, he added.
Cllr Webb, who is not standing again at next May’s election, said: “The bridge has been here for about 600 years and is a common thoroughfare for traffic crossing the river. It’s a very effective bridge and I totally understand that it has to be repaired.
“But I do hope that common sense will prevail.”
KCC cabinet member for highways, Cllr Neil Baker said: “The work to Teston Bridge is essential as well as being a crucial highways asset, it is clearly of historical significance
“While we appreciate there will be unavoidable delays while the work is undertaken, once the work is complete the bridge will continue to be used and cherished for years to come.”