Westwood was declared as a 'district' under the Local Public Works Act 1872 (and Amendment Act 1873), on 3/4/1876. This declaration allowed a local group of landholders to vote on a proposed local public work - the construction of a bridge over the Meander at Westwood. Votes were taken by the returning officer Francis Belstead of Westbury. All votes were in favour of petitioning for Government assistance of the project. A public meeting was held in Westwood 5/7/1876 with five 'Promoters' of the Westwood Bridge elected - W H Bennett, W D Landale, William Luck, George Gregory, and John Millar. John Miller was elected as Chairman. Once established the group oversaw communications with Lands and Works regarding the constructions. They also oversaw the tender process, employment of a 'Clerk of Works' as supervisor, and dispersing Government funds allocated for the construction of the Bridge. The new Westwood Bridge opened for traffic on 11th October 1878. The bridge was designed by J R Frith, with the works carried out by Edward Higgs under the supervision of Mr Edwards as Clerk of Works.