Chain Bridge gets £50,000 facelift boost

 

* The Chain Bridge has been awarded £50,000 towards its facelift.

 

The world-famous Chain Bridge has been awarded £50,000 for restoration  and refurbishment.

 

The project will see the bridge re-opened to pedestrians using chains from the original bridge.

 

This will open up the access route between the Llangollen Canal and Berwyn Halt railway station for the first time in 30 years.

 

The grant award has been given by WREN, a not for profit business which awards grants to community, environmental and heritage projects across the UK from funds donated by FCC Environment to the Landfill Communities Fund.

 

In addition to the physical restoration works an interpretive and education plan will be prepared to ensure that the history of the bridge is well-documented and interpreted to a wide audience which will raise awareness about the bridge and its importance.

 

Meleri Jones, Grant Manager for WREN, said: “We are pleased to support the restoration of the Chain Bridge which is of historical importance for the area. We look forward to it being restored and for local residents and tourists alike to be able to cross the bridge once again."

 

The project will positively enhance the visual appearance of a structure that is currently dilapidated and unsightly and be more in keeping with the World Heritage site and other proposed improvements in the area.

 

Gareth Thomas, Clerk to Llangollen Town Council, said: "We are delighted with the grant award and this takes us a step closer to being able to re-open the bridge.

 

"We are now crossing our fingers for a positive response to an application made to the Heritage Lottery for a further £300,000 grant.”