Farmers and local residents brought traffic to a standstill with a dramatic tractor convoy protest across three Solihull villages, demonstrating their fierce opposition to the potential closure of the historic Barston Bridge. The rolling protest, which saw agricultural vehicles adorned with banners, highlighted the severe impact that losing this vital river crossing would have on rural communities, businesses, and daily life in the area.
Community Unites Against Closure Proposal
Villagers, councillors, and farmers gathered at Barston Bridge on Thursday morning, February 4th, as pressure mounted on Solihull Council with a crucial consultation period drawing to a close. The future of the bridge, which spans the River Blythe and dates back to 1859, has been thrown into doubt due to significant safety concerns that have emerged over recent years.
Barston Lane carries this important structure over the river to the east of the village, with more than 1,000 vehicles traversing it every single day. The council faces two primary options: either replace the bridge with a new structure capable of handling full highway loading at 40 tonnes capacity—a project estimated to cost £2 million—or close it to all motor traffic, leaving it accessible only to pedestrians and cyclists.
Political Intervention and Local Frustration
Meriden and Solihull East MP Saqib Bhatti has recently intervened in the matter, expressing deep concerns that closure "is being treated as an acceptable outcome" by the council. He further questioned whether the consultation process was genuinely open to considering all possibilities, adding another layer of controversy to the ongoing debate.
Jeremy Emmett, chairman of Barston Parish Council, revealed that council officers had previously reassured residents that the bridge would be replaced over the coming years. "Then it stalled," he explained. "The impression we get from the council is that all they ever say is they don't have the money. We need to fight to keep it open. The consultation feels very biased toward the closure of the bridge."
Emmett emphasized the bridge's critical importance to local amenities, stating: "We have the Bulls Heads pub, West Midlands Golf Club, farms, the church—it doesn't make any sense to close it."
Farmers Voice Practical Concerns
Farmer Phil Kirkham, whose Kirkham Farm operates close to the bridge, shared his personal connection to the structure: "I've grown up here, and we have been operating since 1950. If it closed, you would have to take a lengthy detour, adding 10 to 15 minutes to journeys. This represents a significant additional cost in terms of drivers' time and fuel. It shouldn't even be up for debate—it should just be repaired."
Knowle councillor Edward Fitter expressed gratitude for the community's demonstration, noting: "We are thankful for the local community showing the importance of this bridge—the profound impact its closure would have on local farming, businesses, and village life cannot be overstated."
Visual Protest Makes Impact
After more than fifty villagers gathered on the bridge itself, farmers commenced their convoy with tractors displaying banners bearing messages such as "Save Barston Bridge or see me more," "1,000 extra vehicles here daily," and "SMBC don't close our bridge." The procession rolled through Hampton in Arden and Knowle, visually demonstrating the widespread disruption that a bridge closure would cause across multiple communities.
Council Response and Next Steps
A Solihull Council spokesperson responded to the protest by stating: "No decision has been made on its future. The council is engaging directly with local residents, farmers, and business owners and recently held a drop-in session in Barston to provide an opportunity for people to ask questions. A full report with the results of the consultation will be taken to a future environment and infrastructure decision session, where the cabinet member will decide which option to move forward with."
The protest has successfully drawn attention to a critical local infrastructure issue that affects transportation, agriculture, and community cohesion across Solihull. As the consultation results are compiled and analyzed, all eyes will be on the council's forthcoming decision regarding the fate of this historic and functionally essential river crossing.
