Safety plans for listed aqueduct
Safety features are being planned for a listed aqueduct near Aberfoyle.
Scottish Water has applied to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park for listed building consent for work on the southern four-span aqueduct at Duchray Valley.
They have already been told that planning permission is not needed as the work would be considered “permitted development”. However, the listed building consent will consider how to minimise the look of the changes on the structure.
Plans include installing anti-climb fencing mesh to the bridge trough, enhancing security to the bridge access gate and erecting warning signage.
In a submission to park planners, Scottish Water said:“We are implementing a programme of improving safety at pipebridges across Scotland by installing measures to prevent public access.
“Health and safety improvements are required at pipebridges (water and wastewater) across the west region. The solution devised varies according to the pipebridge design and location but includes a combination of health and safety measures, including anti-climb measures such as ‘witches hats’ and security fans as well as warning signage and fencing all placed on or around the existing structures. These works are urgently required to meet health and safety requirements.
“Among the current group of pipebridges identified for these improvements, a number of bridge sites are located along the Katrine Aqueduct in the National Park area, with some sites understood to be listed structures. This application relates to the Castle Burn Aqueduct bridge crossing at Loch Ard Forest, south-west of Aberfoyle, which is an A-listed structure.”
Proposals are said to be essential to prevent unauthorised public access to the existing aqueduct bridge.
The design of the work has already been subject to pre-application discussions in a bid to minimise the visual impact.
Black mesh fixed to the water trough panelling of the bridge would change the look of the structure but is being considered the least intrusive option.
Scottish Water say while planners had indicated the interventions were regrettable they accepted the requirement for health and safety measures.
Treatments to the structure have been finished in black with the aim of integrating with the existing bridge structure as far as possible.
“The alternative considered was the provision of new security fencing to prevent access, however due to the extensive land required around the aqueduct bridge, which is not owned by Scottish Water, this was considered impractical. In addition, such fencing would arguably cause greater impact on the setting of the listed structure,” added the water company.
National Park planners are expected to make their recommendation on the listed building consent in due course.