Campaigners facing defeat on bridge call

Hundreds of campaigners look set to have their hopes dashed as council officials say a bridge should stay closed to cars.

Park Bridge, which links Drumoak and Durris across the River Dee, has been open for pedestrians or cyclists only since 2019 after a routine inspection discovered major structural issues.

The category A- listed bridge, built in 1854, has been closed off ever since, forcing drivers to make a lengthy diversion if they want to travel between the two areas.

Many locals have been calling for the council to reopen the crossing, with more than 350 people signing a petition appealing for vehicles of up to three tonnes to be allowed to use it.

Councillors asked for a report from officers on the possibility.

However, they concluded the preferred approach is to keep the status quo and carry out only appropriate maintenance.

In the report, which will be considered by the Kincardine and Mearns area committee next week, officers outlined the four potential options for the future of Park Bridge.

The first option, to allow light traffic, would come with the “relatively high cost” of £1.52 million and an extra £ 830,000 spent on improving the structure within five years of the initial work.

Option two, to install new decking and permanent measures to restrict vehicles, would mean Park Bridge would only be used by pedestrians and cyclists, as it is now and would cost £580,000 over three years, with an initial £ 35,000 cost for installing the permanent measures.

The third option, for permanent closure to everything but allowing water and telecoms services to use the bridge, would be £250,000 over the next five years and an initial spend of £ 40,000 to stop any pedestrians, cyclists or motorists from using it.

Option four – the idea of creating an entirely new bridge upstream, with capacity for all kinds of traffic – comes with a £12.4m price tag, as well as other costs for land purchase and maintaining the existing structure.

The report says: “The best course of action is for the bridge to remain closed to vehicular traffic.”

Anne Shearer, of the Park Bridge Action Group, said: “We believe the council has underestimated the impact this closure has had.”

NO ENTRY: From left: MP Andrew Bowie, Anne Shearer and Kevin McPhee-Smith.