12th March 2014
Devon County Council are responsible for reinstating Collard Bridge. The work is scheduled to take place in late Summer / Autumn 2014, with an estimated budget of £350,000. [Devon County Road Highway Maintenance Capital Budget]
11th January 2013
The 10th January edtion of the North Devon Journal carried an article with the headline: "Scout's campsite faces difficult decision after Collard Bridge is washed away in floods". A significant length of the old L&B trackbed runs through this parcel of land near Collard Railway Bridge. To read more Click HERE. Note that there are four photos in total. To see them all click on the right-hand arrow at the side of the panel at the bottom of the visible photo.
24th December
Like much of South West England, North Devon suffered severe flooding and destruction during the second half of December 2012, following an extended period of very heavy rainfall. Local news on the morning of the 23rd December announced that Collard Bridge had been completely washed away during the night.
The BBC News site reported:
Hugh Griffith, from Devon County Council, said it was due to inspect several bridges which had been damaged by floodwater.
He said: "Collard bridge in Snapper near Goodleigh has gone down and we've got a number of other bridges that have been under water."
The bridge concerned is not the railway bridge - purchased by Exmoor Associates in 2002 as part of their aim to secure the Southern-most section of L&B trackbed - but the adjacent road bridge over the River Yeo. Nigel Thompson was able to visit the scene that morning, and reported that nothing whatsoever remained of the bridge. Deck, parapets, and abutments had all been washed away downstream - not even debris remained.
The bridge was substantially built, and although classified as a "weak bridge" limited to vehicles of 17 tonnes, was maintained as part of the public highway by Devon county Council, so the power held in the flood waters must have been considerable.
The morning after the night before: There was once a bridge here.
(pictures © ITV Westcountry)
Collard (Rail) Bridge in the foreground, with the EA-owned land beyond to the left, and the now-missing Collard (River) bridge top-right, pictured in 2006.
The bridge in 2010, viewed from downstream.
(© Roger A Smith, licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)
Although it is too soon to say when, the bridge will need to be replaced - possibly with an initial temporary structure. This will be an ideal opportunity to observe the methods and techniques employed, as there are several others that need to be reinstated across the River Yeo and elsewhere along the line, as restoration continues. In 2007, the Exmoor Associates land at Collard Bridge was leased to contractors building a new weir. Perhaps sometime during 2013, they will return.
