The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Community fears for vandal-hit bridge
Closure of the bridge would be headache for many residents
A Kinross-shire community fears that a bridge that has been persistently targeted by vandals may have to close unless immediate action is taken to repair it.
Trudy Duffy-Wigman, chairwoman of Fossoway and District Community Council, claims if the “degradation” of Dunning Glen Bridge continues it will not be safe.
“It is a vital link for residents living on the Dunning Road and closing the road would cause a lot of problems,” she said.
“Fossoway and District Community Council are deeply worried about the state of the Devon Bridge in Dunning Glen.
“We acknowledge the bridge is a listed structure and should ideally be repaired using certain materials and techniques.
“However, the bridge is currently in such a state that it needs to be repaired now.”
Mrs Duffy-Wigman said the community council has tried to stop vandalism of the bridge and acknowledges the police have a difficult time trying to catch the culprits.
“It is not the first time that the bridge has been vandalised – now many of the coping stones have been pried loose and thrown in the river,” she added.
Councillor Willie Robertson said he is “really concerned” about the future of the bridge.
He said he has contacted Perth and Kinross Council and Police Scotland in relation to the latest situation.
“I am going to ask if the bridge can be covered with CCTV to both protect it from further damage and help apprehend those responsible,” he said.
“I am really concerned about the future of this bridge. If things get much worse we may be forced to close it and this would cause a major problem for the residents of Dunning Glen and others.”
A spokesman for Police Scotland said they were not aware of recent incidents of vandalism to the bridge.
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said yesterday: “Perth and Kinross Council continues to inspect the bridge regularly and this has shown that Dunning bridge’s parapets do not pose a significant structural risk.
“The council has looked into the installation of CCTV cameras at Dunning Bridge and it is unclear that they would provide sufficient evidence to present to the police. Discussions are still ongoing on this matter.
“The necessary planning consents are now in place and replacement stone material has been procured.”
“Accordingly, the council expects to replace the coping stones and carry out masonry repairs to the parapets in June 2017. In order to reduce impact on motorists, the council will carry out the works in a manner that will avoid a road closure.”
I am going to ask if the bridge can be covered with CCTV to both protect it from further damage and help apprehend those responsible. WILLIE ROBERTSON