A report to a Maitland council meeting tomorrow night recommends that the council does not support the closure of the William Street bridge, which council officers say provides a vital link between one side of East Maitland and the suburb's central business district.

The report said the corporation was in the process of rationalising and upgrading its infrastructure along the rail corridor and that the pedestrian bridge had been identified as one that could be closed.

The corporation has undertaken a "utilisation" survey of the bridge and considers its retention is not justified. It requested the council's in-principle support to close the bridge prior to submitting an application to the Minister for Transport for its removal.

In preliminary discussions with the corporation, council officers raised concerns about the removal of the bridge in the absence of upgrading existing bridges at High and George streets, East Maitland, or providing an alternative crossing point.

"Furthermore, it was advised that any form of closure should not be considered until adequate community consultation has been undertaken with residents and schools and any concerns adequately addressed," the report said.

The corporation has subsequently placed advertisements in area newspapers requesting comment.

The council report said the bridge was an important part of the East Maitland pedestrian network and was the only remaining pedestrian bridge in the area after the removal, about 30 years ago, of the King Street pedestrian bridge.