Derby City Council has stationed 24-hour security at Darley Abbey Mills Bridge after warning that the closed structure has deteriorated significantly and now presents a serious risk of collapse.
The council said security teams will be based on the village, or west, side of the bridge to deter trespassers and protect public safety. Temporary lighting has also been installed so guards can monitor the fenced-off area more clearly.
Residents and visitors are being urged to stay away from the bridge, the surrounding fenced site, the water near the bridge and the weir. The council said people have continued to force access despite the closure, increasing the risk to themselves and to those who may have to respond in an emergency.
Severe danger around the closed bridge
The council said the condition of Darley Abbey Mills Bridge has worsened over recent weeks. It warned that the risk of collapse has “significantly increased” and that anyone on the bridge, or in the water nearby, could face a severe risk to life if the structure failed.
The warning also extends to local infrastructure. The council said a collapse could threaten Walters Walkway, the weir and utilities in the area.
The public instruction is clear: do not climb fencing, do not enter the closed site, do not attempt to cross the bridge and do not go into the water around the bridge or weir. The extra security is being put in place because the council says some people have ignored those restrictions.
Emergency powers to remove the danger
Derby City Council said it will now use emergency powers under the Building Act 1984 to take swift, direct action to dismantle the bridge and remove the danger.
That move means the council is preparing for intervention rather than leaving the structure in place while its condition continues to deteriorate. The authority said the work is being progressed with partners, but the operation is complex.
Removing Walters Walkway and dismantling Mills Bridge will require careful planning because of the site constraints. The council pointed to major logistical challenges, including the need for enough space and a sufficiently firm foundation to position a crane.
Those details matter for residents because the hazard is not limited to the bridge deck. Heavy engineering work around a weakened structure, a river setting, nearby utilities and the weir means the area is expected to remain restricted while preparations continue.
What residents should avoid now
The immediate impact is on people who live in Darley Abbey, use nearby walking routes, or travel through the area expecting to cross or approach the Mills Bridge site.
The bridge remains closed. Walters Walkway is also part of the council’s removal planning, and people should assume that the fenced area is unsafe even if it appears quiet at certain times of day.
The council’s warning also covers the water. Anyone entering the river near the bridge or weir could be at risk if the structure shifts, falls or sheds material. The council has not described the site as a viewing point or a place to gather; its message is to keep away.
For the local community, the loss of access is frustrating, but the council is framing the response as a life-safety issue. The deployment of round-the-clock guards marks a change from warning signs and fencing alone to active site control.
Council warning to the public
Councillor Carmel Swan, Derby City Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said the authority understood the disruption but needed public cooperation.
“I know the closure is frustrating, but the bridge is in a critical and dangerous state and we need your support,” she said.
She added that the council could not stress enough that people must stay away from the bridge, saying it was “deeply concerning” that some were still forcing access to the site.
“Our focus right now is protecting the community and the local infrastructure,” Swan said. “We are using emergency powers and 24/7 security for one reason: to keep people safe.”
Dismantling work still faces site challenges
The council has not given a public completion date for the dismantling work. Its statement says the authority is working with partners to speed up the project as much as possible, given the risk posed by Darley Abbey Mills Bridge.
The next stage is expected to focus on making the engineering operation possible: securing the area, managing access, protecting nearby infrastructure and finding a workable method for removing the weakened bridge structure.
Until that work is complete, the council’s advice remains unchanged: stay clear of the closed site, do not force access to the bridge under any circumstances, and do not enter the water near the bridge or the weir.
Source: Derby City Council
Source check Source trail
This report is based on Derby City Council’s published safety notice about Darley Abbey Mills Bridge.
- Confirmed the notice states 24/7 security is being stationed on the village side of the br...
- Checked the council’s stated reason: significant deterioration and increased collapse risk...
- Verified that emergency powers under the Building Act 1984 are cited for dismantling actio...
- Included the public safety advice covering the bridge, fenced site, nearby water and weir.
- Source
- Derby City Council
- Scope
- Derby
- Updated
- 2026-06-05 10:43
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