A senior councillor says he wants to see Barston Bridge stay open – but it has been stressed again by officers funds are not available.

The campaign has been gathering pace ever since the future of Barston Bridge, which spans the River Blythe, was plunged into doubt due to safety concerns. 

The bridge dates back to 1859 and carries Barston Lane over the river to the east of the village with more than 1,000 vehicles travelling across it daily.

The council's options are to replace the bridge with a structure capable of "full highway loading at 40 tonnes capacity" – which would cost £2 million – or close it to traffic, leaving it accessible only to pedestrians and cyclists.

And the council launched a consultation period giving residents the chance to have their say, which ended last month. 

The campaign has included a rolling convoy protest to demonstrate the impact a closure of an historic bridge could have.

At February's meeting of the cabinet portfolio holder for environment and infrastructure decision session, Cllr Kathyrn Thomas asked if there was money available should the responses to the consultation be overwhelming in favour of having to replace it.

Officer Dean Ward, the council's head of highway infrastructure, replied: "No, there is not. 

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"At this point we do not have the funds to do a full scale bridge replacement. 

"Our revenue and capital budgets for bridges and structures, they are primarily and almost wholly used each year for replacement for things like vehicle restraint systems on the roads, and maintenance. 

"But it is not of the quantum that would sufficiently deal with paying of a replacement of a new bridge.

"What we would need to do, in that regard, as suggested in the consultation, is look to secure funding from either West Midlands Combined Authority or another funding authority depending on what a business case would say." 

The issue was also raised at the latest full council meeting on February 26 where the cabinet portfolio holder, Councillor Ken Hawkins, said: "People have responded to the consultation – that will come to the decision session in due course.

"My position is clear, I want the bridge to remain open."

Cllr Samantha Gethen asked: "What formal engagement has taken place with affected landowners regarding the potential need for alternative private crossings and has any assessment been made of the economic impact on the agricultural community? 

Cllr Hawkins replied: "The issue with Barston Bridge isn't a new one, it has been going on for a couple of years.

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"18 months ago I approved the decision to have a weight limit there.

"There has been lots of engagement with farmers – there is an ongoing dialogue."