VILLAGERS have said that their historic bridge torn down in a National Trust battle was rebuilt by ‘the fairies’.
The National Trust removed the bridge which provided a path for walkers across the Stiffkey Marshes in Norfolk after a health and safety row with villagers.
Villagers were upset that their historic bridge was torn down in a National Trust battle
Facebook /@Ian CurtisThe makeshift Stiffkey bridge was ripped down by the National Trust due to safety concerns[/caption]
Locals launched a petition to preserve the crossing and it led to the creation of what, according to a scribbled sign, is The Stiffkey Fairy Bridge.
But after the National Trust once again removed the construction, another bridge popped up.
Now, residents in Norfolk claim they nothing about how the bridge was mysteriously built overnight.
They say that “fairies” were responsible for building the new wooden walkway.
Ian Curtis, founder of the Rebuild Stiffkey Marsh Bridge campaign, told the Telegraph that the National Trust should not block Stiffkey villagers from using a path their forebears have always used.
He said: “It’s quite obvious to me, right from the start, that their prime objective was to stop people going on the marsh.
“But people have been going on here for hundreds of years.”
He said: “It’s part of their heritage, their ancestral right of way. People have used it for a long while.
“People have gone out for various reasons over the years. Originally it was probably for sheep to cross over, then it was used by people like the cockle women, and the worm-diggers [people who dug out lugworms to use as fishing bait].
“Now it’s birdwatchers, walkers, holidaymakers.”
Stiffkey lies on the edge of a salt marsh intersected by Cabbage Creek, a waterway that requires a bridge in order to be crossed safely.
The bridge was first removed by the National Trust in February 2022 which allowed locals to cross the marsh to access the beach.
After a campaign launched by villagers, the Trust said a new bridge would cost £25,000 to build and in August 2023, a makeshift structure was put in its place.
It consists of a wooden plank and handrail supported by scaffolding poles sunk into the marsh mud.
Mr Curtis said the reason it has been allowed to stay for now is due to it being built away from National Trust land.
This is because the creek itself falls under the jurisdiction of Natural England, not the charity.
A spokeswoman for the National Trust said: “The National Trust understands that the removal of Stiffkey Bridge is a cause for concern for the local community.
“Due to coastal erosion, we had previously repaired and extended the bridge at Stiffkey. We had hoped it would be possible to continue with this course of action.
“However, further widening of the channel and the age and condition of the bridge meant that our only option was to remove it on safety grounds following specialist advice.
“We are progressing with our plan to replace the bridge in 2024 and following approval from Natural England, are currently carrying out surveys that will inform the design and foundations of the new bridge, which will move us closer to submitting a formal planning application.”
Juliet Lehair 2020Locals said ‘fairies’ had rebuilt the bridge[/caption]
Facebook /@Kerry MarshallThe National Trust are preparing to replace the bridge in 2024[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
