New Lossiemouth bridge receives planning permission
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Planning permission has been granted to built the new steel footbridge in Lossiemouth.
Moray Council gave the go-ahead this morning for building work to start on the bridge which will reconnect the town to its East Beach.
The beach has been out of bounds since June 2019 when the town's old wooden footbridge was shut for safety reasons.
Moray councillors welcomed the application.
Ryan Edwards (Heldon and Laich, Independent) said: "It's brilliant to see this coming forward."
He added: "It's been a long time since the old footbridge was closed.
"I'd like to say a big thank-you to the Lossiemouth Community Development Trust, the community council and, especially, Rab Forbes.
"He has been dogged in pursuing this to ensure that connectivity to the East Beach is restored."
John Cowe (Heldon and Laich, Independent) pointed out that the town's businesses had lost more than £3million in lost trade since the closure of the old wooden footbridge.
Marc Macrae (Fochabers/Lhanbryde, Conservative) said: It's a very long-awaited solution to which everybody is looking forward."
The contractor, Beaver Bridges, are now expected to finalise and submit the technical information, drawings and permits required.
Moray Council says that everything is still on schedule for the bridge to be operational by next Spring.
The new bridge will be about 200ft long and slightly arched.
It will be about 10ft wide and have wooden-effect decking boards.
The new bridge is being funded by the Scottish Government and will be maintained by Moray Council following an agreement reached earlier this year.
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