Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 24940 on Bridges: Runnymede and Weybridge, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the response of the Environment Agency to public safety concerns.

The Environment Agency (EA) prioritises public safety across all of the activities it carries out and also the assets it is responsible for.

The towpath bridges that are currently closed will remain closed until the recommended refurbishment works have been completed.

The EA are aware that the safeguarding measures at Bridge 142 have been repeatedly vandalised and EA staff have regrettably experienced hostility. They are, however, regularly checking the bridge’s signage and security fencing when it is safe to do so and have commissioned a more robust security measure that will be more resilient to vandalism.

The EA is doing everything it can to address public safety across its assets.