Village project hit by bridge closures
Phase 2 of Balfron scheme is postponed until 2022
The next phase of work to create a safe network of walking and cycling routes in Balfron have been postponed over a number of bridge closures in the area.
Phase 2 of Balfron Community Council’s ‘Balfron Active Places’ project had been due to get underway but has now been postponed until next autumn.
Work was due to take place in the Tontine area and Buchanan Street North. However, elements of the work would have required a partial or full closure of the A875 through the village, which is currently being used as the diversion route for HGV’s due to the Branshogle Bridge and Catter Burn Bridge closures.
In order to avoid further disruption, the community council has decided to postpone this phase of the project for a year.
Community council chairman Colin Cameron this week said: “The work was to be Phase 2 of the Balfron Active Places project, developed over the past six years in partnership with Stirling Council and Sustrans.
“Phase 1 saw the successful improvements at the Clachan and Printers Row, made last autumn. Phase 2 was to make a range of improvements to the area around the Tontine and Buchanan Street North, including a permanent site for the village Christmas tree, and a new community public space.
“Phase 3 is to make similar changes around Buchanan Street South.”
He added: “As a result of the various bridge closures surrounding the village and the necessary diversions put in place for drivers, we took the decision to postpone Phase 2.
“It would have involved additional road restrictions on the A875 through the village, and hence an unnecessary additional burden on local residents and businesses. It would also have taken Stirling Council resources away from the more important task of focusing on the bridge repairs.
“Phase 2 is now planned for autumn 2022 alongside the Phase 3 work.”
The first phase of the community-led project took place in October last year.
A community consultation was carried out between February and October 2019 to draft up the plans for the project A number of areas within the village will be developed as a result of the project.
Branshogle Bridge, on the B818, partially collapsed back in March and consultants for Stirling Council were left fearing that “a further collapse is likely”, resulting in a full closure.
Farmers and HGV drivers have been left facing a 19-mile diversion due to the closure, and residents living along nearby routes have reported increased traffic volumes due to the diversion.
Since the closure of the Branshogle Bridge, engineers have been working with stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, consultants and contractors to ascertain the most appropriate process to repair the bridge. Stirling Council says that a contractor has been engaged with a tender returned. Some elements required to be repriced due to a change in specification, and this process is well underway. Further community engagement sessions are planned to provide updates.
In September, the A809 road through Croftamie was shut from the B834 to the A811 after a section of wall and pavement at Catter Burn Bridge partially collapsed.
It’s understood the collapse occurred sometime between 4pm and 5pm on Thursday, September 30.
Stirling Council has put a diversion route in place, via the B834 and A81 to Ballat Crossroads, with HGVs diverted via the B834 and A875 through Killearn and Balfron.
Engineers are currently assessing the extent of works required to be undertaken to repair the bridge, and community meetings are being arranged to discuss the works and the impact of the closures.