Old bridges to Seil, Ross of Mull and Kilmelford to be replaced

Argyll and Bute Council is replacing four bridges, and strengthening five more, after securing £5.4 million from the Scottish Government’s “highly competitive” Local Bridge Maintenance Fund.

A bridge on the only road to the Isles of Seil, Luing and Easdale, on the B844 across the River Euchar at Kilninver, is scheduled to be replaced. The works have been granted £1,194,000, and are due to begin in August 2024 and end in August 2025.

Further south, on the A816 between Oban and Kilmelford, the Oude Bridge over the River Oude will also be replaced. Works are scheduled between March 2025 and August 2026, thanks to a £1,194,000 grant.

Also scheduled for replacement is the Pennyghael Bridge on Mull. Dating from 1835, it carries the A849 across the Leidle River near the head of Loch Scridain, on the only road connecting the Ross of Mull and Iona to the rest of the island. Works have been granted £1,193,000, with works due to start in August 2024 and finish in July 2026.

On Islay, the Glenegedale Bridge on the A846 between Bowmore and Port Ellen, across the Glenegedale River south of Islay Airport, is also scheduled for a replacement, between June and December 2024, due to a £597,000 grant.

The council will also carry out strengthening works on: the B840-140 Ardchonnell Bridge on the east shore of Loch Awe, the B842-010 Claonaig Bridge just south of the ferry terminal to Arran, the A815-230 Cothouse Bridge in Cowal, the B842-150 Whitestone Bridge on eastern Kintyre, and the B839-050 Lochgoilhead Bridge.

The council’s economic development and infrastructure committee agreed on Thursday June 1 to replace the four bridges, and strengthen the further five.

Meanwhile councillors could get more say in which roads are most in need of repair – but they do not want it turned into a “tick-box exercise”.

The council’s roads capital programme is set to involve elected members, with the full plan published in March 2024 after the council sets its budget. But while the authority’s four area committees will take part in discussions, they will not make any decisions, which irked two South Kintyre councillors.

South Kintyre independent councillor Donald Kelly said: “I made it clear at the last meeting we are looking to have area committees make decisions.”

Councillor John Armour (SNP, South Kintyre) said: “If it just a tick-box exercise, it is no use whatsoever. We need to see that what members are putting into these meetings is being taken on board. In our areas, we know roads that are in need of repair, and for some reason, keep being put back and roads perhaps not as much in need are treated before them.”

Policy lead for roads and infrastructure services, Councillor Andrew Kain said: “What is being put forward here is a process to identify which roads should be priorities.”