Clifton and Hotwells
Improvement Society (CHIS)

CHIS News Archive Clifton Suspension Bridge

Maggie Shapland

Medway Queen, restored in Bristol going under the Bridge on the way back to Gillingham, Kent 31 October 2013

Inside the vaults

8 June 2014: MV Balmoral, going under the Bridge on the way back to Bristol after receiving her 5 year Maritime Coastal Inspection certificate at Sharpness

The iconic Suspension Bridge features in many of the news items so I have created a special page so you can find them easier.
The following news items are listed with the latest items first.

• Opening of the new Visitor Centre
• Tower Restoration Works
• 2014 Suspension Bridge celebration
• 2014 Clifton Trader Protests
• 2014 Suspension Bridge maintenance
• Fog
• 2013 Suspension Bridge toll
• 2012 Suspension Bridge Jubilee and Olympics
• 2011 Suspension Bridge Maintenance
• First Hovercraft under Suspension Bridge
• 2009 Suspension Bridge Maintenance
• 2008 Suspension Bridge Maintenance
• 2006 Suspension Bridge lights
• 2001-2005 Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre

Opening of the new Visitor Centre

1 June 2015

Former Chairman of CHIS, Francis Greenacre, welcomes HRH Princess Anne to formally open the new Visitor Centre

Tower Restoration Works

14 and 15 March 2015: Scaffolding starts being erected. TOWER RESTORATION WORKS DETAILS

The two majestic towers which support the Clifton Suspension Bridge are set to undergo important restoration works. The masonry will be cleaned and repointed, and repairs carried out to the roof structure, the drainage and the access ladders. Clifton side to be completed by October, Leigh Woods side by 2016.

Road Closures Suspension Bridge Road Closures and celebrations

Saturday 6 December Living statues, street theatre, music

Sunday 7 December 2015 Fireworks

Monday, December 8 is the anniversary itself

• see a procession re-enact the event staged when the bridge was officially opened in 1864.
• It will begin from the Clifton side of the bridge, on Suspension Bridge Road, and end at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre.
• Between 2.30pm and 4pm the bridge and surrounding roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic.
• The procession will assemble at 2.45pm at the Clifton end of the bridge and move off at 3pm, reaching the Bridge Maintenance Yard at the other side about 20 minutes later.

Evening Post firework video
Suspension Bridge website

2014 Suspension Bridge celebration

150 years ago on May 7 18644, the suspension chains were completed, joining the two sides of the Avon Gorge permanently for the first time.
Wednesday 2 July 18644, the last of the cross girders was fixed in the centre of the bridge, and a small party was allowed to pass over on planks placed accross the girders.
Monday, December 8, 2014 marks the 150th anniversary of the official opening of Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Sunday 7th at 7pm will see a spectacular display of fireworks.
Monday 8th at 3pm will see a procession of dignatories walk across the bridge to the new Visitor Centre. The new Heritage and Learning Centre will open on the west side of the Bridge.

Planning permission was granted in Autumn 2012. Construction works started in October 2013 It is planned to open the new Centre in December 2014, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the opening of the bridge.

Picture taken 6 Dec 2013

Picture taken 1 April 2014

2014 Clifton Trader Protests

9th April 2014 - Clifton Village Traders protest using a Sherman tank to voice their concerns about Residential Parking Scheme. It drove through Clifton Village and ended up at the Suspension Bridge.

2014 Suspension Bridge maintenance

April:

Nice weather for working on the chains

Well attached- not like in days past

Fog

14 March 2014: Heavy fog

2013 Suspension Bridge toll

• Wednesday, May 29 at Ashton Court Mansion: Public Inquiry about proposals to double the current Suspension Bridge toll from 50p to £1 after a backlash from drivers. Evidence was submitted to julian.smith@dft.gsi.gov.uk by 29 April

2012 Suspension Bridge Jubilee and Olympics

• 4 June 2012: Queens Jubilee

  The Suspension bridge was suitably patriotic with Union Jack

  One Gas jubilee beacon lit Durdham Down, Sea Walls, Bristol BS9 1PG at 10pm – one of 2012 being lit around the world Another official beacon lit at 10:15 in Mall gardens There was then a firework display at the Avon Gorge Hotel to celebrate the Queens Jubilee. Street party on all day in the Mall between West Mall and Portland Street.

• 23 May 8am 2012: Olympic torch carried over the Suspension Bridge
  Well worth watching! A historic moment

2011 Suspension Bridge Maintenance

October 2011: Suspension Bridge Hangers. The work entails replacing two of the longest hangers, which are 12 metres and 14 metres long and together weigh around a third of a tonne. They were hoisted into position using a cherry-picker. Straps with strain gauges held the strain while each rod was removed. A further eight hangers are being replaced without the need to disrupt traffic.

Note the bridge spanner being put to good use, and the strain gauges at the base of each of the two straps used to take the strain while the rod is removed

First Hovercraft under Suspension Bridge

On 22 May 2010, 10 light hovercraft and the Portishead Lifeboat went in convoy up the Avon from Shirehampton to Bath Road Bridge with the Lord Mayor on board. This was in aid of the Portishead Lifeboard Trust www.justgiving.com/hovercraft. This was the first time a hovercraft had ever passed under the Suspension bridge

Just past the bridge

hovering on the bank

2009 Suspension Bridge maintenance

4 October 09: More maintenance- this time by climbers on the chains 5 April 09: Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge was closed on Saturday evening after a crack was found in one of its metal hanging rods. Dorothea Restorations came to the rescue.

undoing the 150 year old stud after supporting the chains	the break can clearly be seen
removing the broken rod	David Anderson the Bridge Master looking at the stud

2008 Suspension Bridge maintenance

Resurfacing The existing timber kerbs and their mastic asphalt covering were removed, along with the cast iron drainage gullies and the timber splashboards. A new drainage channel was installed, with narrow glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GRP) splashboards and extruded asphalt kerbs on both sides of the roadway. The roadway was also resurfaced, and some of the timber replaced (last done 50 years ago). Work on the £650,000 project started in July 2008 and finished in December 2008.

13 February 2008:Application No. 08/00656/LA
Type of Application: Listed Building Consent (Alter/Extend) Proposal: Installation of a new drainage system along both edges of the roadway of the bridge. The existing timber kerbs and their mastic asphalt covering will be removed, along with the cast iron drainage gullies and the timber splashboards. A new drainage channel will be installed, with narrow glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GRP) splashboards and extruded asphalt kerbs.

2006 Suspension Bridge lights

The highly effective lights were switched on on the 8th April 2006 at 9:15pm with a fantastic display of huge cascading fireworks
Photos courtesy of Tom Scammel
There was a demonstration of the new lights on 12 May 9:15 2005. Pictures:

View from the lookout

Lights on the walk way- these can be dimmed down

Lights on the chains

See information.

2001-2005 Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre

Brian Worthington represented CHIS at the Suspension Bridge Road Stopping up Order hearing at Royal Courts of Justice 13 October 2005, required to build a new Visitor Centre where the current toilets are. Part of the road needed to be stopped up.
• 18-19, 24 May 2004 local public inquiry to hear representations to make a Stopping up Order of Suspension bridge Road in order to build the Visitor Centre under section 247 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
• 2001: Planning Application 01/02376/F (Erection of two storey building to accommodate Visitors Centre, ancillary staff facilities and public lavatories for the Clifton Suspension Bridge), 01/02375/LC (Demolition of existing public toilets). Granted June 2003.

Useful websites:

• Clifton Suspension Bridge website

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