Timing of key bridge closure branded 'baffling'
"BAFFLED" councillors have hit out at plans to shut a key access to a popular Inverness beauty spot for up to six weeks at the height of the tourist season.
The suspension bridge linking Bught Road with Whin Island will close this Monday for "essential repairs" as part of wider refurbishment of footpaths within the Ness Islands.
The move will temporarily cut off access to the beauty spot from the west side of the River Ness at a time when visitor numbers are at their highest.
And that decision has sparked questions from puzzled councillors, who have asked why work is beginning now – 13 months after the cash for it was signed off and three months after work elsewhere on the latest phase got underway.
They have also criticised the short one week notice period given to the public.
Inverness West councillor Alex Graham, said: "It was very disappointing that [the public] were given such short notice of the work, particularly because it is used as the main access to the Ness Islands from the Bught side [of the river] and of course it’s also part of the Great Glen Way route as well so it’s important to tourists as well as locals.
"I accept that the work is necessary and has to be done and I’ve been in touch with the council to see if work can be done as quickly as possible and in less than six weeks.
"But I’m a bit baffled as to why it has taken so long [to start], as there was approval in June 2017 for an extra £73k for work on the bridges.
"Why has it taken a year between then and the work?"
Inverness Central councillor Bet McAllister also raised concerns, and highlighted the impact the closure could have on people heading to and from local events, such as the open air Little Mix concert on Sunday, July 29.
She added that if the work needed settled weather and low river levels, it could have been carried out months before now thanks to the exceptionally dry spring and summer the Highlands has experienced.
"I can’t understand it," she said. "Why not start in April or early May – they could have had it done.
"I’m not happy with the timing, especially when we’ve had such good weather. They could’ve saved lots of hassle if they’d just got on with it.
"Someone probably needs to get their knuckles rapped. It’s such bad timing. If it was that dangerous and bad why not carry out the work before. And if it’s not dangerous why not leave it [to a quieter time]?"
"They could easily do it in September."
Highland Council insisted the timing was due to the need for a settled weather window, and that the Monday start date was designed to avoid this weekend’s Inverness Highland Games.
A spokeswoman said: "The council apologises for any inconvenience that this will cause and is mindful of the fact that the closure is taking place throughout the summer, however the works are necessary for the essential maintenance of the bridge and the closure is for public safety.
"The timing of the refurbishment in the summer season is necessary as it provides the best weather conditions to get the work done safely with lower river levels."
Meanwhile, the council has urged the public to stop attaching so-called ‘love locks’ to bridges, and plans to remove any it finds during the repair work. It also called on people not to place stickers on lamps, benches or bridges.
"The padlocks cause rust and both stickers and padlocks damage paintwork," they said. "All existing padlocks and stickers will be removed as part of the refurbishment works and the council’s plea is to leave no trace."
