Salisbury councillors grant £50k to restore Broken Bridges

Broken Bridges Nature Reserve Limited (BBNR) is raising £250,000 to purchase land at Fitzgerald Farm, known locally as Broken Bridges, to restore it for community use, enhance its biodiversity and improve public access.

The natural habitat is on water meadows that surround the footpath running between Harnham, Lower Bemerton and the Churchfields Industrial Estate. 

However, pathways on the reserve are often left impassable due to poor maintenance and flooding, particularly affecting users with restricted mobility.

At a packed full council meeting at the Guildhall on Monday night (November 4), Salisbury councillors voted unanimously to grant the scheme £50,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, putting the group “within touching distance” of its target.

That money comes from contributions made by the developers of housing estates along Netherhampton Road, which cannot be spent on the council's day-to-day costs.

This means there will be no impact on services or council tax. There is £342,000 in the city council's CIL receipt pot – so this donation will use 14 per cent of it.

Broken Bridges contains 35 acres of natural habitat (Image: Spencer Mulholland) BBNR had already raised around £165,000 through Section 106 agreements, grants and public donations to the tune of £80,386 since launching its fundraiser in May.

City councillors were told their decision to grant the donation would “unlock” an additional £75,000 in funding from Wiltshire Council.

After the meeting, councillor Jeremy Nettle (Conservative, Fisherton and Bemerton Village), who chairs the Broken Bridges group, said the decision will enable it to “secure this fantastic natural resource for this and future generations”.  

City councillors on Monday night (Image: Newsquest) He said: “This is a tremendous step forward and we wish to thank both the council and all the people and groups in the community that have made donations.

“This is a huge demonstration of the public support for bringing this much-loved area into community ownership.

“It is a green lung giving people access to nature whilst working to improve the much-needed access between Churchfields, the railway station and the new housing developments on Netherhampton Road.

“Once the land has been formally acquired, the work begins in implementing our plans (raising the funds through grants) needed to improve the path, replace fencing and restore the biodiversity lost in recent years. 

“But for now, we just want to say huge thank you to everyone who has supported us.”

The Guildhall was packed with supporters of the proposal (Image: Newsquest) When the land is purchased, it will be owned by the Broken Bridges Community Interest Group, which will later become a charity.

More than 220 public comments were made in support of the proposals.

Speaking at the meeting, Chris Bradley, director of BBNR, said: “There will be no future commitments or liabilities on Salisbury City Council, and this does support all of your policies.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The sense of pride it will bring to Salisbury and the public area is amazing. It will build on the work around the railway station and Fisherton Street.

“It will enhance the city's reputation as a great place to live, a great place to invest and a great place to visit. This will make a real difference to your residents.”

Founder director Anne Trevett said the pathways will improve accessibility – something “very close to my heart”.

“We are determined that we will improve that path,” she said.

“But central to our thoughts is that we don't want to turn it into a superhighway. We want to keep is as a nature-central space.”

Cllr Jeremy Nettle, chair of the Broken Bridges group (Image: Newsquest) Pam Rouquette, another founder director, said: “Access to nature is vital for our health and wellbeing. The pandemic started the concept that nature on your doorstep is vital.

“You couldn't go far, so people discovered new places. Now people know it's there, and they want it cared for and looked after. They want the wildlife to thrive.”

Cllr Ricky Rogers (Labour, Fisherton and Bemerton Village) said: “I think, as someone who goes back longer than anyone in the room, I'm just going to say: At last.

“This has been a long, long, long time coming. I just wanted to say thank you. How you have persevered for this long is just fantastic.”