DENBIGHSHIRE County Council has admitted its contractors damaged a section of the historic Llangollen Bridge. 

The council has said that stones were "displaced" from the bridge, thought to be at least 400 years old, by contractors working on the town’s 2020 Project on Thursday afternoon. 

The authority said work is now going on to replace the stones while a full site survey is carried out to see what other work may be needed.   

Pictures were posted on social media showing what seemed to be cracks in the stonework of the ancient monument as the contractors worked on the pavement to renew pavements on Castle Street above.

The Leader:

Llangollen town councillor Stuart Davies immediately asked questions about the consequences of any damage to the bridge, which is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, and urged that a full structural survey be carried out.

Denbighshire Council told the Llanblogger: “Stones displaced on Castle Street Bridge in Llangollen on Thursday afternoon are currently being relocated back into position. 

“During ongoing public realm improvement works in the town, a small number of stones were displaced from the bridge during the removal of the base of a street lighting column. 

“Work is ongoing to put them back into position and there is no risk to the structural integrity of the bridge. 

“A full survey of the site is being carried out in partnership with CADW to determine what further repair works will be required.”

READ MORE: Work underway to transform historic Llangollen Bridge into artwork 

Llangollen twon councillor Staurt Davies said he has written to the county council’s chief executive and leader to say a structural engineer should now inspect the bridge to see if there has been any damage which might weaken it.

He added: “If there has been any damage, repairs cannot be done quickly as this is a Grade 1 Listed structure and an ancient monument for which permission needs first to be obtained from CADW.

“If there has been any damage there is also the question of whether heavy traffic can still be diverted through Llangollen and over the bridge as happens when the A483/A5 viaduct is closed.

“These are the questions I have asked of the county council leaders.”