1971: At last! Temporary Bailey bridge between Anstye and Cuckfield to be built following collapse of its 135 year predecessor.
- andyrevell
- Aug 16
- 2 min read
Friday March 12 1971 from The Sussex Express
Bailey Bridge to Reopen Main Road Within a Month
In a major turnaround, the Roads and Bridges Committee of East Sussex County Council has announced plans to construct a Bailey bridge over the A272 at High Bridge, between Cuckfield and Anstye. The move will allow the main road to reopen to traffic in less than a month.
Until last week, the committee had told local residents—who had been campaigning for a temporary bridge since the road was cut off on February 14 when High Bridge collapsed—that no such bridge would be built. At the time, officials insisted the road would remain closed to all motor traffic until a permanent replacement was completed.
On Tuesday, following an unofficial statement that the decision had been reversed, George Stevenson, secretary of the Haywards Heath, Cuckfield, and Lindfield Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the news.
“We have won the greatest victory we could have anticipated,” he said. “We have shown the County Council that we really mean business and are ready to fight for what was right.”
The announcement was confirmed in a statement from committee chairman A. B. Hayworth-Booth, who outlined three key factors behind the decision:
The need to keep traffic moving on the main A272 route.
The impact on unclassified roads being used as detours.
An offer of a government grant to help cover costs.
Work has already started on demolishing the 135-year-old brick bridge. The Bailey bridge has been ordered and is expected to be operational within weeks. Once open, it will carry single-file traffic controlled by lights.
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