The bridge that links the swimming pool to the Racecourse Sportsground has to be replaced and may be blocked off for several months because of complications with utility pipelines.
The route was shut on May 30 and the closure has caused consternation because the alternative route across the Medway, 75 metres away, is via a narrower bridge.
Access for the disabled on the bridge is problematic and there have been complaints that pupils at Slade Primary had been walking to school through a car park.
Andrew Young, Engineering Manager (Technical Services) at Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, said: ‘The bridge was closed following a structural assessment. This shows that the bridge has reached the end of its usable life.
‘I am currently looking at the options available. However, there are water mains and electrical cables attached to the structure of the bridge. These will need to be removed and diverted before anything else can be done.
He added: ‘It would be nice to replace this bridge quickly. However, any works near water and with additional services attached to the structure will take quite some time.’
