Plans for a new fully accessible footbridge at Nairn Railway Station up for decision
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Network Rail will replace the old cast-iron footbridge at Nairn Railway Station with a new crossing further down the platform – if Highland Council gives the go ahead next week.
The issue with the bridge is that it is nearly impossible to use for anyone with mobility issues, which is something campaigners like Nairn Accessibility Panel have been raising at least since 2019.
The proposed new bridge will have a lift on either side of the platform to provide fully accessible connection to both sides of the track and is a significantly larger and bulkier structure, particularly with the lift-towers.
The steel structure is 17.5m wide overall, 12.4m clearance between stairways and 4.1m clearance height above platform level with 6.1m to the top of balustrade while the lift towers are 3.1m wide by 3.4m deep, 8.45m/8.8m high to the ridge of the roof.
Network Rail has consulted council officers and Historic Environment Scotland about the impact of the removal of the existing decorative cast-iron footbridge, which is a key part of the B-listed station group.
The Listed Building Consent (LBC) cannot consider issues of neighbouring residential amenity like “over-looking” or loss of privacy and impacts on daylight or sunlight as it only assesses what directly affects the built heritage of the site.
