A plea for cash to help replace a much-missed footbridge at a popular walking spot has been rebuffed by Sandhurst Town Council.

The bridge over the river Blackwater has been closed since April last year after inspectors decided it was unsuitable to cross over, with signs of rot. The closure has effectively cut a popular walking route – the Blackwater Valley Path, which spans both sides of the river – in two.

The land on the Sandhurst side is owned by Bracknell Forest Council, while the land on the other side is in Hampshire.

Bracknell Forest Council rangers need up to £60,000 to replace the bridge – and asked Sandhurst Town Council to help them get it ready ‘for the summer of 2024’.

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But Sandhurst Town councillors declined, saying there was ‘no indication’ of much they might have to pay.

A Bracknell Forest Council ranger wrote to Sandhurst Town Council asking for support to replace the bridge. They said the replacement could cost between £55,000 to £60,000, and that Bracknell Forest Council would pay for some of this itself.

But the ranger added that they are also looking into getting support from other organisations, and asked if Sandhurst Town Council could contribute ‘match funding.’

The ranger said: “Given that the bridge forms part of the Blackwater Valley path between Sandhurst and Blackwater I was hoping Sandhurst Town Council might be in a position to support the project with some match funding.

“Obviously, we are looking to gain as much match funding as possible. This would enable us to confidently organise the bridge replacement for the Summer of 2024.”

But councillors on Sandhurst Town’s leisure committee agreed unanimously to decline the request when they considered it on January 18.

The council said it couldn’t promise to provide funding as the ranger had given ‘no indication’ of the total cost, or how much Sandhurst Town Councill would have to pay.

Committee chair councillor Jean Bettison told the News: “The bridge is partly in Hampshire and partly in Bracknell Forest, but not on Sandhurst Town Council land.

“As the request gave no indication of the total cost nor what contribution might be needed, we made the decision to decline the request based on the information available to us.”

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Stephen Chown, head of natural estates for Bracknell Forest Council, said he was ‘confident’ that funding to replace the bridge would be found.

He told the News: “We have been prioritising each step needed to resolve the situation, recognising the local importance of the bridge. A bridge replacement is expensive, but we are confident funding will be secured.”

He said the council still anticipates the bridge will be replaced by 2024 – but factors such as weather are ‘beyond our control’.

Mr Chown added that details could be confirmed after Bracknell Forest Council decides its budget in February.