Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois has lent his support to a project to build a bridge, near the site of the original Norman bridge, leading onto the site the Norman Castle on Rayleigh Mount.
Mark attended a meeting at the Mill Hall, Rayleigh with Cllr Mavis Webster, the deputy leader of Rochford District Council, and members of the National Trust’s Rayleigh Mount Committee to discuss the need for a ‘feasibility study’ to come up with a viable design for a new bridge, as well as ascertaining the potential cost. During the meeting Mark showed his support for the group’s efforts and voiced his opinion that if it was possible to build the bridge it could be of great benefit to the town’s tourist trade. A feasibility report and designs for the project will cost between eight and ten thousand pounds, which it is hopes can be raised by a combination of funds from the Mount Committee and grants from other bodies.
The Rayleigh Mount, a Norman motte and bailey castle, was originally built in the 11th century by Sweyne, son of Robert FitzWimarc, but latter fell into disrepair and is now owned by the National Trust. The adjacent historic Windmill is owned by Rochford District Council which is also supporting the project. The meeting was intended to allow all sides to look into ways to raise funds to conduct the feasibility study.
Speaking after the meeting, Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois MP said:
“Rayleigh Mount along with the Windmill and the Holy Trinity Church are among Rayleigh’s best tourist attractions. Linking the Mount to the windmill with a new bridge would potentially be a boost to tourism and to our town’s businesses and is something I would strongly support. This was a very productive meeting which set out the next steps to raise grants for a report into costings and potential designs. I really hope this will be a success and the bridge will eventually be built.”
