A DATE for repair work to Worcester Bridge has still not been set nearly two months after a police car crashed into it.
Temporary barriers are still in place weeks on from the crash, which took out a large chunk of the parapet on March 3.
West Mercia Police said the incident, which left one of its patrol cars partially hanging over the River Severn, had been caused by a loose work laptop becoming lodged in the steering wheel, making the officer unable to steer.
No misconduct was identified by the force but it did say that the two officers who had been in the car at the time would receive “reflective practice” from its driver training team.
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West Mercia Police also said it had engaged its insurers.
In an initial statement after the crash, Worcestershire County Council said the repair work would be “incredibly complex”.
Worcester News asked the authority if a schedule of works had been set, when they were likely to begin and what the estimated cost would be.
It said it was still sourcing replacement stone and “exploring options” to retrieve any original material from the river.
In a statement, similar to one it provided last month, a spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: “We are currently assessing the condition and availability of suitable replacement stone and are exploring options with a specialist dive team for recovering any original materials when river levels permit. These assessments are expected to take several weeks, due to both heritage requirements and river conditions.
“Once this phase is complete, we will provide a further update on the preferred repair method, the expected timescales and any traffic management that may be required. Our priority is to ensure any works are carried out safely and in line with the requirements of this nationally listed heritage structure.”
