27/01/2026
Saqib Bhatti MP and local councillors raise ‘serious concerns’ over consultation.
MP for and East, Saqib Bhatti MBE, along with local councillors, has raised “serious concerns” about the options appraisal for the future of Barston Bridge, warning that “the process risks being perceived as not balanced”.
Barston Bridge is a critical piece of local infrastructure, providing one of the key road links between , , , and . Around 1,050 vehicles use the bridge every day.
Following a detailed review of the Council’s options appraisal, Mr Bhatti has expressed concern that “the consultation appears to be framed in a way that implicitly favours the permanent closure of the bridge to vehicles, rather than objectively testing all reasonable alternatives”.
He says the option to replace the bridge is consistently presented alongside an emphasis on cost, disruption, visual impact and inconvenience, despite the fact that replacement would fully resolve the bridge’s structural, safety and long-term resilience issues. In contrast, permanent closure is presented as a viable long-term solution without a robust assessment of its wider consequences.
Barston Bridge plays a vital role during flood events when alternative routes become impassable and is relied upon daily for journeys to schools, healthcare and employment.
The local MP says closure would displace traffic onto surrounding roads, increase journey times, worsen rat-running, and weaken the overall resilience of the parish, including potential implications for emergency service response times. Longer diversion routes would also lead to increased carbon emissions and environmental harm.
While recognising the severe financial pressures facing local authorities, Mr Bhatti stressed that difficult decisions must still be made on the basis of transparent evidence and genuine community engagement.
Saqib Bhatti MP has called on Solihull Council to reconsider the framing of the consultation, publish all supporting evidence including structural assessments, cost comparisons, emergency services input and equality impact assessments and confirm whether external funding options have been explored, including approaches to the West Midlands Combined Authority for one-off support.
Commenting, Saqib Bhatti MBE MP said: “I am deeply concerned that this consultation does not appear to be a genuinely open or neutral exercise. Closure is being treated as an acceptable outcome without proper consideration of the real-world impacts on emergency access, flood resilience, rural connectivity, school routes, local businesses, farming operations and community sustainability.
“Whilst I fully appreciate the financial challenges councils face, particularly given the current Local Government Settlement, residents deserve a consultation that is balanced, evidence-led and genuinely open to the option most strongly supported by the community.
“Barston Bridge is not a minor local inconvenience. It is critical infrastructure for the community it serves, and its future must be decided through a fair, transparent and credible process.”
Cllr Edward Fitter said: “Closing the bridge to vehicles would significantly impact journey times and divert heavier traffic onto already busy routes, including through places such as Knowle High Street.
“With Labour increasing Solihull’s housing targets by 52 per cent, it is more important than ever that we keep our transport network functioning and invest in the infrastructure residents rely on.”
Cllr Dave Pinwell said: “Restricting the future of this bridge to just two, all or nothing, options is unhelpful, especially the one which will leave the village with just one way out.
“The starting point for this project should have been to consult on what the villagers and bridge users need for the future, neither of the current options fits that bill"
