Council installs spiked barriers in bid to stop people trying to cross unsafe Lossiemouth footbridge
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SPIKED security fencing has been erected on Lossiemouth's East Beach footbridge in a last-ditch attempt to stop people trying to cross the dangerous structure.
Moray Council installed the palisade fencing after holding off on its plan to remove a central span of the bridge. The action had been planned after repeated vandalism to safety barriers and locks by a small number of people ignoring safety issues to get access.
The plan was put on hold, however, at the end of April after an appeal from local community councillors to keep the iconic bridge intact and to look at other solutions to prevent access.
After the community appeal councillors agreed that stronger barriers would be installed in a final attempt to stop access – but said if the barriers were to be vandalised again the council would revert to the original plan to remove a span.
Moray Council leader Graham Leadbitter said at the time the move was "the last chance" to keep the bridge intact. He said the council had a duty under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 to take any necessary action to make a structure safe when it had become dangerous.
He added it was difficult for council staff to deal with the situation when some individuals were determined to ignore safety measures.
The East Beach Bridge was declared unsafe in July last year, with a replacement planned in the next 18 months to be funded by the Scottish Government.
The council issued a reminder yesterday that alternative access to the East Beach was via Arthur's Bridge and urged people to follow advice from HM Coastguard Moray not to cross the river as unseen depths and currents presented a safety hazard.
