Why hasn’t this footbridge been replaced yet?
THERE are calls for an inquiry after local councillor Dave Dempsey said Aberdour was still “nowhere near” getting a replacement footbridge at the harbour.
The previous structure over the Dour Burn was washed away by floods during a storm in August 2020.
However, the short distance between the two banks remains a long way from being bridged and his motion calling for an inquiry was backed unanimously by the South and West Fife area committee last week.
Cllr Dempsey said: “It’s twoand-a-bit years since this bridge fell down and, as far as we can tell, we’re nowhere.
“We’ve got some formal approvals but nowhere near getting a replacement. We need to do more than just note this.”
The project to replace the footbridge has been hit by numerous delays, leading to growing frustration and anger in the village.
On being told a report on the issue was being prepared for the next area committee meeting, which isn’t until November 23, an unimpressed Cllr Dempsey said: “It’s imperative this report doesn’t just tell us what we already know.
“We know there have been problems. Are we able to add something today to stress the need to get answers to this?”
Vicki Connor, service manager in roads network management, said: “We did put the project out to tender but the costs came back significantly higher than expected. I’m sure (in the report) they will bring forward some options about the future design of the project.”
Cllr Dempsey said: “What you’ve just told us we know and the public know. We need to go on from there and do something more positive.”
Cllr Patrick Browne, who also represents the Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay ward, said: “I’m very disappointed that the tendering process failed.
“The bridge washed away in August 2020 and the delays in replacing it are unacceptable. I don’t think anyone disputes that.”
Cllr Dempsey’s motion said the delays in replacing the footbridge were causing “considerable upset and inconvenience to the people and businesses of Aberdour”.
After the meeting, he told the Press: “All the local councillors share the public’s frustration that, two years on, the new bridge isn’t in place and there’s no definite date for when it will be.
“It’s a key element in the Fife Coastal Path and its absence is seriously affecting users of the path and the businesses that rely on them.
“We understand that it wasn’t just the bridge that went and that getting the necessary permissions to construct new supports has been complicated.
“We know that the council officers want this sorted as much as everyone else.
“However, what we don’t know is whether the council’s procedures have contributed to the delay. It has seemed that various parts of the project might have been run in parallel, to shorten timescales.
“That’s certainly a question raised by Aberdour residents.”
Cllr Dempsey’s motion called on the environment, transportation and climate change scrutiny committee to investigate the council’s processes and procedures and identify what, if any, improvements could be made.
He added: “That won’t bring back the delays already experienced but if there are lessons to be learned and changes to be made, then it’s imperative that those are uncovered and acted on.”