The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Anger as bridge revamp ignores disabled access
Turnstile remains on Dee crossing
CAMPAIGNERS have criticised Aberdeenshire Council for leaving a wheelchair-blocking turnstile intact while revamping a historic bridge.
The vintage gate at the Cambus O’May suspension bridge, which was damaged in Storm Frank, means access for people with mobility issues is “impossible”.
The River Dee crossing, which dates back to 1905, recently reopened following major repairs after being shut since it was almost destroyed in 2015.
Aberdeenshire Council has come under fire from disability campaigners for revamping a historic bridge but leaving it impassable for wheelchairs.
The Cambus o’ May suspension bridge in Deeside was reopened at the start of the month after it was almost destroyed by Storm Frank in 2015.
During the intervening years, locals had written to the council asking that a turnstile on to the bridge not be included in the revamp as it can make crossing impossible for those with mobility issues.
However, the B-listed structure has been resurrected with the gate back in place.
The local authority cited “legal, safety and heritage obligations” for the move, but opponents say it flies in the face of modern expectations around disabled access.
The feature prevents access for prams and wheelchair users, and poses difficulties for cyclists.
Dale Kitching, who lives nearby in Aboyne, said: “Quite a few of us raised this issue when the bridge was being renovated, when we realised the turnstile would be put back in place.
“I used to work as a teacher at the special needs department at Aboyne Academy and our kids would have just loved to be pushed on to the bridge and have that experience of being above the water.”
Alasdair Johnston, who used to live near the bridge, said during his time as former member of the “Inclusive Cairngorms” advisory forum for the Cairngorm National Park Authority (CNPA), the issue of accessibility at Cambus o’ May was frequently brought up as a problem.
He said: “Now that the bridge has been reinstated, I just can’t believe they’ve put the turnstile back.
“When I sat on the social inclusion board this was constantly coming up as an issue of concern for people with disabilities.
“It makes bicycles difficult, but wheelchairs, forget it, it’s impossible.
“The idea that you’ve got a bridge, that’s a footpath that connects one side of the River Dee to the other, that only able-bodied people can use is just crazy.
“It’s 2021. Awareness of disability is significantly higher than it was when this bridge was built.”
Glyn Morris, chief executive of Scotland-wide charity Friendly Access, said: “It seems a shame that the views of the community to include those with low mobility could not have been included within the planning stage of the rebuild.”
The repairs to the bridge were a “major undertaking” and the project received a personal donation from Prince Charles in 2019.
Donald MacPherson, structures manager at Aberdeenshire Council, said: “Unfortunately the turnstile on the original bridge was vandalised and thrown into the river sometime after the damage caused to the bridge by Storm Frank.
“When work began to restore the bridge to its former glory this included the reinstatement of the turnstile as required by legal, safety and heritage obligations”.
The reopening of the stunning Cambus O’May suspension bridge after more than five years of closure is a reason to celebrate.
As we move into summer and restrictions ease, many Scots will be able to travel over the bridge for the first time since Storm Frank left it severely damaged in 2015.
There is something poetic in those two freedoms being restored at roughly the same time. However, a significant number of people will face difficulty when using the bridge because of its turnstile.
Though an original feature, the turnstile stops wheelchair users or those with buggies from gaining access. Money for the Cambus O’May repair came from multiple sources, including community fundraising.
While staying true to the 1905 design is important, allowing all members of the community to access the bridge must take precedence.
If a turnstile is considered necessary for safety reasons, a more suitable, inclusive version should be added. It should not be forgotten the bridge is actually a replica, built in 1988 for safety reasons. Now is not the time to be precious at the expense of empathy.