Bridging the Gap between two communities

More than 250 decking boards, 1,500 nails and 2,000 staples were used by Hampshire County Council and Sparsholt College to rejuvenate a worn out bridge between Chilbolton and Wherwell in Andover.

The bridge is owned and managed by Hampshire County Council who teamed up with young entrepreneurs at Sparsholt College studying for a diploma in Countryside Management, to give them an insight into their chosen career path.

A150ft section of the bridge, which provides the main pedestrian link between the two parishes of Chilbolton Common, took 5 days of hard work and dedication to repair to the required specification.

The students were given valuable practical experience in estate construction, repair and maintenance which is vital for their college course. This required learning important techniques on how to replace rotten decking timbers, strengthen sections, provide extra grip for walkers when the decking is wet, how to minimise inconvenience to the public.