Lossiemouth's East Bridge to be demolished
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A decision has been made to demolish the wooden footbridge in Lossiemouth later this year or early 2022.
The go-ahead was given today by Moray Council for contractors to knock it down while they are on site building a new concrete replacement.
The wooden bridge, which is the only way to access the town's East Beach, was closed permanently for safety reasons in the summer of 2019.
Councillor John Cowe (Heldon and Laich, Independent) originally tabled a motion asking for a delay in demolishing the wooden footbridge until the new structure was built and open for use.
Speaking at today's full council meeting, cllr Cowe said: "It's a very evocative local issue.
"The bridge is part of Lossiemouth, its culture, its history.
"As well as an iconic landmark it's been there for over 100 years and the local community needs time to consider the options.
"It's much loved, photographed, painted and admired."
Councillor Cowe welcomed the building of a replacement, which is being funded by the Scottish Government.
But, he added, there would be no "immediate public risk" involved in allowing the wooden bridge to remain in place until the public had the chance to see the new bridge in use.
Cllr Cowe later withdrew his motion, however, stating there seemed "little appetite" amongst council officers and his fellow councillors to defer the decision.
Council officers stated that allowing contractors to knock down the wooden bridge while on site would do away with the costs of ongoing safety checks as well as getting fresh quotes and asking a contractor to return to the town.
This, it was stated, would save the local authority £10,000.
The meeting also heard there was no prospect of the wooden bridge ever reopening, and that it would have to knocked down at some point.
It was stated during the meeting that, according to an economic assessment, visitors being unable to access the East Beach would cost the town's businesses £1.5million per year under normal circumstances.
The Scottish Government has agreed to pay £1.8million to build the new bridge.
It will be constructed from the town's Esplanade, about 200 yards away from the site of the wooden bridge.
A provisional date of March/April 2022 has been given for its completion.
During the same meeting cllr George Alexander (Forres, Independent) asked whether building the new bridge from the Esplanade would have any effect on the tides and the sandbanks.
In response, he was told that a full hydrological survey had been carried out.
