Herefordshire Council’s reconstruction of the river crossing at Bridge Sollers, completed in March 2003, has landed a top environmental award.
The award has come from the Green Apple Organisation, an independent environmental group dedicated to promoting the positive side of environmental endeavour.
The judges looked at the achievements of the project in terms of sustainable development, environmental benefits, innovation and quality of work.
This award was won against strong national competition. The bridge, on the unclassified road over the River Wye between Bridge Sollers and Madley, cost £1.3 million and took ten months to build.
To complete the project within the tight time restrictions and to the required standards, Herefordshire Council worked closely in partnership with its design consultants Halcrow, and the contractor Birse.
The work was undertaken in an area of high environmental value - nationally it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and has the designation of a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) – a European designation recognising that it contains a number of important or rare species.
The award is recognition of reaching the exacting requirements of environmental protection for the site.
Cllr Mike Wilson, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation), said: “We’re delighted that the Bridge Sollers project has received this national recognition.
“The River Wye is a fine natural asset to the county and the Council was very aware of the importance of sensitive treatment of the site when planning this project.”