Chain Bridge tenders go out for early 2014 start

* Tenders have now gone out for restoration work on the Chain Bridge.

Llangollen councillors have been introduced to the two new officers who will help drive forward the project to revive the Chain Bridge.

This summer it was announced that the long-awaited £465,000 restoration of the famous bridge, which has been closed for safety reasons for the past 30 years or so, could go ahead after the final slice of necessary cash came in the form of a £350,000 boost from the Heritage Lottery.

At the Town Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors met Sam Jones, who will be project co-ordinator, and Laura Black, who will be heritage officer.

Both said they were now working to spread the word of the project to local voluntary groups and businesses and, hopefully, to get as many people involved as possible.

They added that the project now had its Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Town clerk Gareth Thomas told members that tenders for the work had recently gone out to six likely contractors and bids were due to be received just before Christmas.

He said it was hoped that the contract would be let in January, with work on the bridge possibly starting the following month and being finished in May or June next year.

There will then be an official re-opening event later in the year.

Mr Thomas added: “Hopefully, we will get a favourable tender and be able to get the right team to work on this important project.”    

He explained that an issue had been identified with the water supply to the nearby Chainbridge Hotel being carried over the River Dee on the bridge but said talks would be held with its owner Seamus O’Keeffe to ensure the supply is maintained.