Councillor Carmel Swan Cabinet member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said:
There are currently two bridges in place at Darley Abbey over the River Derwent, the original Mills bridge and the interim Walter’s Walkway. The original bridge, which is not owned by the Council, has deteriorated over many years. Recent detailed engineering assessments have confirmed that the bridge now presents a serious safety risk, and demolition is the only safe and viable option.
Despite not owning the original bridge, in 2022 the Council stepped in to install Walter’s Walkway as an interim solution, reconnecting the mills with the village. Since its installation we have carried regular maintenance and invested funding to keep the bridge open.
As part of this regime, it was discovered that there was significant riverbank erosion and the walkway was closed in December 2025. Since then, we have undertaken various specialist surveys, and the professional advice has confirmed that it cannot be safely reopened until the original bridge is demolished.
The closure of Walter’s Walkway is a source of frustration and disappointment for us all, and the Council will work with businesses to assist them in accessing support. However, public safety is our absolute priority and must come first.
We have not sat idle since the original bridge closed. We have been working hard to develop suitable proposals and secure the funding that is needed at this stage. There is a process to follow, and several financial and legal challenges to overcome, but we will continue to push on with these proposals and restore permanent access for our residents and the wider community.
We are focused on reopening Walter’s Walkway once the original bridge has been removed and the area made safe, but this will be subject to the securing the necessary funding and approvals. the current estimated timescale for reopening is approximately 12 months.
While the original bridge is not a council asset, we are fully committed to delivering a new permanent bridge for Darley. This will involve the Council seeking to take official ownership and all the risks associated with ownership of the old bridge, subject to a Cabinet decision in March, and securing funding from East Midlands Combined County Authority to carry out the demolition and associated works.
This is a complex situation involving environmental change, historic infrastructure and land ownership challenges on a UNESCO World Heritage site. In addition to managing the immediate safety issues, work on developing the business case and plans for a new permanent bridge continues.
The first stage of the Outline Business Case can be found on the Council’s website. This complex process will take at least two years to work through, reflecting both the scale of the challenge and the Council’s commitment to securing a long-term solution for the community.
Significant progress has already been made over the last year and work continues at pace, with a clear focus on securing the ownership, funding and formal approvals required to restore this important connection.
To keep residents informed, QR code signage will be installed across the area linking to the latest updates on the Council website that will provide regular information and real-time progress.