Community groups in Kerse Bridge pledge
Councils will work together to mitigate closure impact
Three Stirling community councils are set to to work together to try and mitigate the impact of the proposed 12-month Kerse Bridge closure.
Both Braehead and Riverside community councils have discussed the Network Rail plans at meetings on Monday and last Wednesday respectively.
Riverside Community Council is currently consulting with members of the public before they submit their comment on the plan to replace the bridge.
Riverside CC planning spokesman Isabella Gorska appreciated the need for electrification of the rail network but had strong reservations about the “negative impact” of the 12-month bridge closure on Stirling's population and economy. She believes Stirling Council should reject Network Rail's application on the grounds of environmental and access issues and seek to have the time frame for the work reduced.
She asked four questions of Network Rail: why the project is scheduled to take 12 months; can the new bridge be built off site and then brought on site and erected; can a temporary bridge be built alongside; if lowering the rail line – and therefore eliminating the need for a new bridge – will cause potential flooding; why can that not be managed by modern methods?
Speaking at last week's meeting, she added:“The upheaval to road infrastructure through diversions will have a very negative effect on community's environment and access. This will also impact heavily on many businesses especially smaller business who are already fighting to survive.''
Community council secretary Ann Graham said Ms Gorska had made “pertinent points” but was anxious to hear Network Rail's thinking on the proposal before making a final decision on the application.
Representatives from Riverside and Mercat Cross were at Braehead's meeting on Monday night, where it was agreed that the three groups will continue to discuss the application over the coming weeks - with the works set to have a major impact on traffic in the areas.
Andrew Szwebs, vice chairman of Mercat Cross and City Centre Community Council,said: “We will be working with Riverside and Braehead CCs to try and mitigate the impact of the Kerse Rd bridge closure.”