‘Someone must take responsibility for bridge blunder’
Councillor calls for answers as firm stay silent on‘mistake’
Nobody will be prosecuted over the epic failure to haul a new bridge into place over the Black Cart Water.
The 160-ton structure flipped over on its side, spectacularly up-ending heavy transporters and flattening a van.
Now we can reveal the government’s safety agency has ruled there’s not enough proof to charge the company running the move, civil engineers Wills Bros.
It could also take until the end of the year before the river is finally spanned.
A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive confirmed: “The enquiries into this incident are completed.
“HSE will not be reporting the matter to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal as evidence did not identify a breach of law that could be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.”
It was in November that the 100 metre long pedestrian and cycleway over the river at Renfrew toppled.
Since then Motherwell-based Wills Bros have refused to say what went wrong “since this is an ongoing investigation.”
The firm continued the wall of silence yesterday despite the probe being over.
They will not reveal if the damaged bridge will be salvaged or a new one will need to be constructed.
The secrecy has been slammed by Jane Strang, Conservative councillor for Renfrew North and Braehead.
She said: “The people of Renfrew deserve answers.
“This was a serious mistake that could have had devastating consequences.
“We are now months on since this incident yet still nobody is willing to take responsibility for their failings.
“Those in charge are merely burying their head in the sand and hoping this goes away.
“That is simply not good enough and we must urgently hear when a second attempt to bridge the Black Cart will take place as soon as possible.
“When this happens, those carrying it out simply must get it right this time.”
The bridge is a key link to the new £39 million Glasgow Airport Investment Area project led by Renfrewshire Council and backed by the Glasgow City Deal.
The structure will be driven in bits to a construction site near the river and then connected - but a time frame has still to be finalised.
A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council said: “The Glasgow Airport Investment Area site contractor Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd has completed its investigation into the Black Cart pedestrian and cycle bridge incident and is incorporating the findings into the revised installation plans.
“These will be considered by our health and safety team ahead of the contractor progressing the bridge installation and completion of the project later this year.
“The bridge is part of a series of improved walking and cycling links at this location, with initial designs published this week for consideration of improved connections from the bridge along Greenock Road connecting into Inchinnan Business Park.”
Amazingly, nobody was hurt in the after- dark blunder on November 23 but a Volkswagen Caddy van alongside it was flattened.
It is understood Renfrewshire taxpayers will not pick up the tab for the bungle, as the lifting firm was under contract to the site developer, not the council.
This was a serious mistake that could have had devastating consequences