Worcestershire County Council says it intends to recover every cost tied to fixing Worcester Bridge after a police patrol car tore through its stone parapet in March. The Grade II-listed structure is now undergoing specialized repairs, with West Mercia Police confirming the matter is in the hands of its insurers.
How the crash happened
The patrol car crashed through the bridge's stone parapet after the driver lost steering control when a laptop became wedged in the steering column. A subsequent review by the force's Professional Standards Department found no misconduct, though both the driver and passenger were required to complete "reflective practice" sessions with the driving training team as a corrective measure rather than a disciplinary one.
Why the repair is complex
Because Worcester Bridge holds Grade II listed status, the council cannot simply patch the damage with standard materials. Repair teams must use specialist conservation techniques and source stone that closely matches the original to preserve the structure's historic appearance and integrity. This kind of work typically demands slower, more deliberate construction methods than a conventional repair, which is one reason the project is expected to take up to three weeks once underway.
Notably, sections of the original stone fell into the river during the collision, but engineers decided against retrieving them. Surveys indicated the submerged material was likely already damaged and posed no hazard to people using the river, so the council judged that the "significant cost" of recovery operations wasn't justified.
Who pays, and what's still unresolved
The council has not yet disclosed the total price tag for the repair, but it has been explicit that it plans to recoup the full amount from the police force. That includes not just the physical rebuild but also preparatory assessments, engineering design work and project management overseeing the repair from start to finish.
West Mercia Police has confirmed its insurers are already in contact with the local authority, though the force declined to comment further on specifics or cost figures while negotiations continue. The council says discussions with "all parties involved" remain ongoing, meaning a final settlement figure has not yet been reached.
Impact on the public
Drivers have been warned to expect delays while repair work is underway, though the council has confirmed pedestrian access across the bridge will remain open throughout the project. No timeline has been given for when cost negotiations between the council and the police insurers are expected to conclude.