Council refuses to reveal cost of bridge bollards

PERTH and Kinross Council has refused to disclose the cost of the bollards purchased for its ongoing Perth Bridge works.

The local authority closed off the busy city centre bridge, also known as Smeaton’s Bridge, in May for a fortnight in order to install bollards for safety purposes.

The winged footpaths which protrude from each side of the 18th Century Tay crossing are too shallow to support the weight of any vehicle which might veer to the side or mount the kerb.

As a result, Perth and Kinross Council paid for 64 cast-iron bollards to line the pavement, designed to be “in keeping with the historic nature” of the bridge.

It has been confirmed 58 of the posts will be installed and the remainder kept as replacements.

Road workers were unable to install the bollards at first time of asking but after two weeks of road restrictions and nothing to show, the council began rectifying the issue in July, closing the northbound lane on the bridge between 7am-7pm for a further eight weeks, set to conclude on August 30.

Meanwhile, work is under way on a £300,000 upgrade of the bridge’s lighting, replacing the 30-year-old lamp-posts.

The council has confirmed that the same 58 posts are being used in the revised designs but has refused to disclose the cost of the posts.

A council spokesman explained: “The council is under a statutory duty to secure best value for the services it provides.

“It has been determined that disclosure of individual costs would interfere with commercial competition among those who supply or seek to supply services to the council, which would run counter to the pursuit of best value.”