Bridge to stay shut
Magdalen Bridge will stay closed to revellers for next month's May Morning celebrations, despite hopes that it would be re-opened this year. A City Council spokesman said the bridge will close at 3am until all celebrations have ceased.
This is the fourth year running that the bridge has been closed. Representatives from the City and County Councils, Oxford University and Thames Valley Police decided that it would be unsafe to open it again after a report by County Council technicians. Paul Wills, Senior Technician, said: "Tests have been carried out which have revealed potential problems with the parapets when crowds of people are pushing against them." English Heritage must give the all clear before work to reinforce the bridge can be carried out.
The bridge was closed for the first time in 1998 after students had jumped into the river in previous years, giving rise to concerns over safety. In 1994, over 20 people were injured in this manner.
Oxford University students expressed their disappointment: "I'd heard that the bridge would be open this year," said one Hertford student, "it's a shame that things always have to be cordoned off at events such as this."
A free bus service will run from Iffley Road via Donnington Bridge to bring people to the city-side of the bridge, but a high demand for the service is expected given past turn-outs. May Day, which falls on a Tuesday this year, will start as usual with the Magdalen choir, with further events planned for the following weekend.
3rd May 2001