Bridge rebuild plans scrapped over drinking water fears

Plans to rebuild a bridge washed away in a storm have now been scrapped following concerns a new structure could contaminate drinking water in thousands of nearby homes.

Llanerch Bridge, which crosses the River Clwyd in Denbighshire, collapsed in January 2021 following Storm Christoph.

Local businesses said the closure – which led to a seven mile (11km) detour – had caused a slump in trade, which they had hoped a new bridge could help alleviate.

But those efforts have now been shelved after concerns raised by Denbighshire Council that the work could endanger public health.