Plans to reroute vehicles from a 202-year-old iron bridge have moved a step closer after councillors backed a proposal to create a new bypass crossing.

The Grade II* Listed Chetwynd Bridge near Alrewas is the largest surviving pre-1830 cast iron bridge in England and second largest in the world – but it has been showing its age in recent years.

Refurbishment works and structural assessment revealed the bridge to be weak and a 7.5 tonne weigh limit was imposed to protect public safety.

The restriction means that heavy vehicles face a 20-mile diversion between Elford and Alrewas.

Restrictions are also put in place each year for festival-goers travelling to nearby Catton Park in Derbyshire, meaning only cars or motorbikes may use Chetwynd Bridge and it is off limits to campervans, caravans and other larger vehicles.

The bridge, which carries the A513 over the River Tame, is a critical gateway to the National Memorial Arboretum too.

Staffordshire County Council is proposing to create a new bypass bridge for vehicles.

Chetwynd Bridge is set to be converted into a pedestrian and cycle route as part of the application approved by the authority's planning committee on Thursday (6 August).

Chris Plant, the council's structure manager, told the committee: "Chetwynd Bridge is the county's highest priority bridge scheme – we have a Grade II Listed heritage structure that is a restricted A-route and has been restricted since 2019 with traffic lights.

"There are issues with vehicles damaging and passing through the parapet, hence the concrete blocks.

"The bridge currently has a 7.5 tonne weight, 2.3m width and 20mph speed restriction.

"It's been overloaded, from sensors on the bridge, over 5,000 times in the past 12 months, which is not sustainable.

"The diversion route is causing significant disruption.

"The solution is we need a new bridge to bypass the existing heritage structure and the heritage structure will be preserved.

"We have undertaken extensive consultation, which has demonstrated strong support. Residents support the scheme and we have received 31 letters of support, including five MPs, National Highways, Derbyshire County Council, National Farmers' Union, National Memorial Arboretum and Catton Park, which significantly can attract 20,000 visitors in an event weekend.

"Historic England support the new structure.

"They require the new structure to be sympathetic to the existing bridge, which will remain the focus of attention.

The new structure should not mimic the old structure – it should be modern, sleek and of quality and elegance whilst remaining recessive in appearance.

"We have submitted a bid to the Department for Transport of £46.3m, as part of the Government's £1bn Structures Fund.

"It's a lot of money, however the benefits of the scheme outweigh the cost by 11.1 to one."

Staffordshire County Council is expecting to hear if its funding bid has been successful in the autumn.

If it secures funding, advance works could begin later this year.

A number of local MPs have backed the bid. Sarah Edwards, MP for Tamworth, said: "This piece of local infrastructure is vital to both our local logistics and farming communities.

"Restoring it would unlock the local economy by removing burdensome extra costs.

"It would also provide a vital route to alleviate the impact of local flooding which isolates rural communities."

Dave Robertson, MP for Lichfield, Burntwood and the villages said: "The launch of the Government's new Structures Fund is excellent news for our area.

"Chetwynd Bridge is a vital local crossing and the largest cast iron bridge in the country, and it is imperative that it is urgently replaced to ensure it is fit for the 21st century.

"I'm pleased that, following discussions I held alongside fellow MPs with Department for Transport ministers, the fund will enable councils to seek funding for replacement bridges, including a much-needed replacement for Chetwynd Bridge.

"I will continue working with local partners to make the strongest possible case for this investment."

Cllr Peter Mason, cabinet member for strategic highways at Staffordshire County Council, said: "We have full confidence in our bid for Chetwynd Bridge, which is backed by a strong case, detailed feasibility work and support from both local MPs and major attractions such as the National Memorial Arboretum.

"This is a nationally significant heritage structure and a vital route for one of the country's most important places of remembrance.

"Securing this funding would help protect the bridge for the future, as well as maintaining a key route for businesses and communities that supports the wider local and regional economy.

"If unsuccessful, we would have to look at other options, including having to close the bridge permanently due to the continuing degradation of the structure exacerbated by the amount of vehicles we are seeing not respecting the weight and width restrictions in place."