A bridge costing £1,282,096 is set to replace one “at the end of its usable life”.

Three Rivers District Council allocated £320,524 to replacing the pedestrian bridge off Riverside Drive, next to Ebury Play Area, after the level of repairs that would be required in the coming years were revealed in a report.

Despite the report showing it was reaching the end of its usable life, it currently remains safe to use.

Councillor Chris Lloyd said: “I am pleased to see that the council has taken the first step to replace the pedestrian bridge with a new key access into the wonderful Rickmansworth Aquadrome.

“The old bridge is showing its age and it is not sustainable for the council to keep repairing it.

“A new bridge will not only future proof the access for the years to come but also enhance the area and create a new link for cyclists to enter the local nature reserve.”

The new bridge would be much wider (up to 4.5metres), subject to planning permissions, to allow cyclists to use it as well as walkers.

The funding allocation was agreed on Tuesday (July 11), at full council, but Three Rivers District Council also had tp submit a bid to the Department for Transport’s Paths for Everyone funding programme, as a further £961,572 is needed to fully fund it.

Watford Observer: The bridge at Rickmansworth Aquadrome

The council allocated funding would come from its Community Infrastructure Levy pot. The levy is charged to new developments to finance projects benefiting the area and developers can reduce what they need to pay through measures such as affordable housing.

Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst said: “The Government rightly wants to encourage cycling and walking and if we can secure this money that is available from the Government we can have a bang up to date bridge that enables both, and that will last for future generations.

“I am pleased the council has agreed that this is the way forward and we were able to allocate the funding.”

The outcome of the bid for full funding will be revealed later this year, and a planning application will also need to be submitted and approved.