Minutes

Councillor C. Townsend asked:

The Leader of the Council will be concerned that only four recorded inspections have been undertaken of the old Bassaleg bridge in the last 32 years. I also know the Leader will be grateful that the recent immediate actions prevented potential injury or loss of life.

However, it is important that lessons are learned and measures are put in place to make sure that inspections are undertaken, reported and scrutinised. 

Can the Leader confirm that:

- A special investigation will be undertaken into the examination of existing inspection regimes and that this is reported to the relevant scrutiny committees of the Council as well as the Cabinet?

- A plan will be put in place to prevent a recurrence, but more critically, will provide confidence to Newport residents that all necessary assets and structures are regularly inspected and are safe?

Councillor R. Jeavons responded:

I am unsure why the councillor has referenced a period of 32 years, as I cannot comment about what happened all that time ago.

I can say that the bridge referenced was inspected in 2018 and then again, this year, which is in line with our inspection regime.

The recent issues that caused the closure of the bridge do not relate to problems with the bridge structure. Scouring in the river Ebbw has impacted on the foundation under the bridge and had to be addressed.

The Highway Asset Management Plan was adopted two years ago following full consultation with the relevant scrutiny committee.