Talks are due about knocking down Lossiemouth's East Beach Bridge
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Moray Council will discuss next week whether or not to spend £69,000 to demolish the wooden bridge to Lossiemouth's East Beach.
The issue is due to be spoken about by councillors next Wednesday.
A report prepared by council officers states the existing bridge could be demolished at the same time as a new structure is built from the town's Esplanade.
This, is says, would cost about £69,000.
The report gives a time frame for construction work on the new bridge to begin next January and be completed by March/April 2022, although it adds this may be subject to change.
Alternatively, it states the council could wait until the bridge becomes increasingly unsafe and then spend an estimated £77,000.
The report says: "Funding for the replacement bridge does not include an allowance for demolition of the existing bridge.
"Although the existing bridge has no owner the council has a duty to ensure public safety and so will ultimately have to remove the structure at its own cost.
"The bridge will continue to deteriorate and will become an increasing risk to public safety that will require the council to take action.
"At this point in time the bridge is considered safe because we have prevented public access to it, however, there will come a point when the risk of items falling from the bridge will become a risk to river users."
The same report later states: "If in the future the Council decides to demolish this bridge in the interest of public safety it would cost in the region of £77,000."
People have been unable to use the wooden footbridge since it was closed in July 2019.
The Scottish Government has agreed to fund the £1.8million cost of designing and building the new bridge from the esplanade.
This figure includes £1,375,000 of capital costs, £365,000 in 'risk allowance' and £60,000 site supervision costs.
The new bridge is expected to have a 100-year life span.
Read the full report here
