Council has always done the best it can to maintain region’s rural bridges

Sir, – I was disappointed to read the letter (March 11) from three pressure groups regarding the challenges Aberdeenshire Council faces with its bridges. Their claim the council “view the failure of bridges as an opportunity” is a truly appalling suggestion.

I served as a councillor for 23 years (1999-22); for 12 years as chairman of the infrastructure services committee (ISC). In every one of those years the council faced massive budgetary challenges in the face of diminishing government funding and ever-increasing demand. A long-term shortfall in the resources required to maintain all of the council’s infrastructure, not just bridges but roads and buildings, including the vital education estate, is an inevitable consequence.

The Infrastructure Fund was established to help address this challenge. A fixed percentage of council tax increases would support long-term capital borrowing to finance major infrastructure projects. Forty per cent of the fund was allocated to bridges – of which there are over 1,300; 40% to the vital maintenance of over 3,500 miles of roads; 20% to the maintenance of the education estate. I worked closely with the then council leader on this fund, as did my colleagues. We recognised it would not be sensible for the council to have better roads and bridges but be forced to close schools accessed by them.

Few bridges in Aberdeenshire were designed to cope with modern traffic, with many dating from before the war, the 19th Century or earlier. A number of them are listed. Climate change has seen a rapidly increasing frequency and severity of flood events which can undermine foundations or in extreme cases wash bridges away – King Edward was a case in point. The council put in place a maintenance prioritisation plan, based on an objective analysis which considered a range of factors including condition, connectivity, the availability of alternative crossings as well as the social and economic benefits of each bridge. In all of this the safety of bridge users was – and is – paramount. The plan received unanimous support at ISC.

However the fund cannot resolve all difficulties. PostCovid, significant numbers of infrastructure projects were brought forward across Scotland. This surge in demand outstripped the supply of contractors able to bid for projects as well as driving up prices – inflation in the construction sector was a major issue then and remains so today. Increased interest rates have impacted on the cost of borrowing. I suspect the council tax freeze has not helped. Undertaking major work on historic structures carrying vital roads (the Banff Bridge dates to 1779 for example) requires detailed and thorough project design.

Resources are finite and demand exceeds available funding in a way that can only be described as unsustainable. Thus in a few cases one option is to close a bridge, either permanently or for a period but only where there is a reasonable alternative. This has never been seen as a positive “opportunity” but rather as a pragmatic solution to the challenges faced. And of course, as the recently- discovered issues with the Aboyne Bridge have demonstrated, the list of structures requiring urgent and costly intervention continues to grow.

Aberdeenshire Council has, over many years, actively sought additional funding to help tackle this massive challenge.

I have no doubt it continues to do so but sadly governments appear to have other priorities. I recognise of course the frustration felt by communities impacted by these issues.

However, there are no simple solutions, no magic bullet. I also know, from long involvement, the council has highlyprofessional and experienced officers who are committed to working on these challenges, in near impossible circumstances. They deserve our thanks. Peter Argyle. Torphins.

Bridge of Fortrie at King Edward was badly damaged with its foundations washed away.