A BRITISH pensioner has been honoured at an A-7 motorway footbridge near Marbella after saving hundreds of lives by its construction.
Her insistence to build the bridge over the then-lethal N-340 motorway came after a series of horror crashes involving British tourists walking to the nearby beach.
Stella Bosworth – mother of two – returned to the Bena Vista footbridge at El Paraiso 42 years after her actions saved hundreds of lives this week.
Standing on the bridge, she told the Olive Press: “I think it’s amazing that it’s being remembered and that people still care about the bridge.
“It’s the first time in 40 years that I’ve been back here.”
Alan James – an 87-years-old British businessman and tourist mogul who funded the bridge – joined his former employee, Bosworth, and a crowd of 30 people as she received a certificate of honour for her determination.
READ MORE: Woman who helped ‘save hundreds of lives’ on Costa del Sol road to be honoured in Estepona
“I was really pleased today. There were 30 people. Lots of clients and even representatives of the Town Hall”, James told The Olive Press.
“This is the only privately owned footbridge here,” he added.
On the certificate, it says: ‘In thanks for her actions in 1984 which has saved hundreds of lives on the Costa Del Sol Spain…’
Bosworth worked as a manager for UK travel firm The Experience Group four decades ago and the danger of crossing the coastal highway shocked the Mancunian.
“We were renting holiday apartments and Alan said he was going to build a commercial centre across the road for the tourist to have shops and restaurants,” Bosworth told The Olive Press.
“I thought it was a good idea but then I remembered trying to cross the road; it was very dangerous.”
As Estepona town hall failed to come up with a solution – and more crucially money – Bosworth eventually gave James an ultimatum: she would quit her job unless he built a safe crossing for residents and tourists.
READ MORE: Touch of magic: A day in the life of Estepona is to experience the very best of southern Spain
“It was simply too dangerous to promote a development that was not safe,” Bosworth continued.
James – one of the first British investors into the Spanish tourist market and one of the key builders of El Paraiso golf – decided he would have to go it alone and foot the bill.
Workers built the bridge in just six months, after which James expected the Town Hall to take over the structure.
“When I built the bridge, I got the impression that the Town Hall would take over in five years, but we’re now 40 years later and it still hasn’t happened”, James chuckled, raising an eyebrow.
“They did some renovation five or seven years ago and now we’ve been pushing for them to put some ramps up and another renovation.”
Meanwhile two Town Hall representatives attended the ceremony claimed they have finally approved renovation plans ‘after a three-year delay’.
The bridge definitely needs those renovations, The Olive Press can confirm on inspection.
“I have mobility problems myself and I wouldn’t be able to walk across here, so it’s important they do this …and particularly because the beach is on the other side. People want to be able to get to it”, Bosworth insisted.
Jim Stevenson, represents AREME, the foreign residents association of Estepona, is now putting pressure on the Town Hall to put ramps on the footbridge, making it accessible for everyone.
“I first went to the town hall for this five years ago,” he insisted. “About three years ago they agreed to pay for it, if the local residents paid for the engineer and the plans.”
So predictably they got together and went ahead and paid €16,000.
“That’s where it’s been stuck ever since, because the plan needs to be authorised by the ministry in Malaga”, Stevenson explained.
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