“RECKLESS” vandals could have caused around £1,000 of damage to a newly revamped bridge in Fairford.
Dilly’s Bridge, between the town and Horcott, was blocked off from the public this weekend after contractors completed resurfacing the footpath.
However, at some time between Friday night and Saturday afternoon, vandals tore down the barriers to gain access.
Now there are fears that the bridge will have to be resurfaced again, at a cost of around £1,000 to Fairford taxpayers.
Fairford town councillor Trevor Hing said: “I don't understand it because there are other routes they could have taken. It’s just reckless vandalism.
“We’ve had problems along that stretch before. When river levels were rising we put sandbags down there and we had people taking them or kicking them into the river.
“So there’s obviously some users of that footpath who don’t appreciate what’s being done.”
Works to raise and resurface the bridge started before Christmas and were originally funded by Gloucestershire County Council as part of an extension to the town’s flood alleviation scheme.
Cllr Hing is meeting with contractors from Cotswold District Council later today to identify the extent of the damage.
Anyone with information that might help to identify the culprits can contact Fairford Town Council on 01285 712344.