A PLAN for a footbridge over the River Corve to link a housing development with Ludlow has been withdrawn.

It comes seven months after the scheme was originally submitted, including the bridge.

Now the developer and Shropshire Council have agreed that it is not needed.

"Given that there is no local support for the bridge, that it has never been considered a necessity to make the development sustainable and, strangely, the design, scale and visual impact of such a prominent and significant structure was not considered by the Inspector, it is concluded that the application… should be approved,’ said a report by Shropshire Council officers.

"The council has already accepted that the bridge was not essential to make this development sustainable. A fact acknowledged by the Appellant and the Inspector at the inquiry. Nothing has changed in that respect. The bridge will not make access to the town centre any more convenient compared with the other proposed means of access directly on to Bromfield Road.

‘There is no local support to provide the bridge and this, combined with the analysis of it benefits and likely adverse environmental impact on the character and appearance of the area leads to the conclusion that it should be omitted for the overall development."

Andy Boddington, the recently re-elected Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North, has welcomed the removal of the bridge from the scheme.