New system lifts off

‘The controls will now fall under the council’s remit’

The lifts at the Seabraes Bridge have been out of action on five occasions since the crossing opened last year.

Previous repairs had been carried out by the manufacturer because the bridge was still under warranty.

That warranty has now expired and any future repairs will be carried out under the council’s remit and in line with the local authority’s health and safety standards. The council has also put in place an escalation procedure with phone operator Vodafone after the emergency phone autodialer was found to be faulty, leading to the lifts being out of order for three weeks.

Councillor Fraser Macpherson said he hoped the new procedures would prevent lengthy closures.

He said: “I’m pleased to say that the bridge lifts are back up and running after the recent closure. Previously the bridge was closed due to mechanical faults which the contractor repaired because it was still under warranty.

“The most recent closure was due to a fault with the emergency phone within the lift.

“Repairs will now fall under the council’s health and safety remit so I am hoping we will see a swifter response to any problems.

“The bridge’s lifts can’t be in operation when the phone is out of order so I’m pleased an escalation procedure is in place.

“I’m hopeful that will mean we’re able to avoid lengthy closures.”

A Vodafone spokeswoman said: “We’re sorry it’s taken so long but it was a complex problem and it took longer to find the cause and carry out repairs than we anticipated.”

A council spokesman said: “The problems with the phone were outwith the council’s control so we have now put new procedures in place to ensure that any future problems are dealt with more quickly.”

NEW procedures have been introduced to prevent lengthy closures at a £3.5 million footbridge.

The £3.5m Seabraes Bridge, which only opened last year, has broken down five times since it opened.