A MEDIEVAL bridge may have to be partially rebuilt to make way for heavy goods vehicles.

Pedestrians have been crossing Twyford Bridge at Yalding, near Maidstone, for more than 600 years, but lorries are now causing so much damage to one of its west walls that architects are considering repositioning it.

The decision comes after Kent Highway Services admitted that the cost of repairing brick and stone vehicle damage to the structure had come to £18,765 over the past nine years. Almost each week, HGVs damage the bridge’s walls.

No company has been prosecuted for the damage. Ann Long, landlady of the neighbouring Anchor Inn, said: “As soon as they fix it, it’s damaged again. A lot of the lorries are just too long for the bridge. The bridge was meant for haycarts, not heavy goods vehicles.”

The bridge lies at the centre of the old Saxon village of Twyford, or Twin Fords, so named because it was a crossing point close to the meeting of the Rivers Medway and Teise.

A Kent Highway Services spokesman said: “Kent Highway Services considers that Twyford Bridge should not be restricted as it is the only unrestricted crossing of the River Medway between Maidstone and East Peckham and is an important access point for this part of the Weald.

“We are about to present a case to English Heritage to realign part of the outer wing wall on the bridge to avoid damage from vehicles in future.”

Should the medieval bridge be realigned or should larger HGVs be banned? Write to the Kent Messenger at 6-7 Middle Row, Maidstone, ME14 1TG or e-mail messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk