Members of an Aberdeenshire community will this month hold urgent talks about how they can save a historic bridge after being told the council would consider alternatives to demolition.
Elected members voted last month to have Newburgh’s North Bridge removed as the cost of repairing the crumbling crossing was estimated at up to £500,000.
The bridge was found to be cracked and badly corroding during a local authority inspection in January – and was immediately closed.
Council officers then deemed the cheapest option to be the removal of the crossing across the Foveran Burn, at an estimated cost of £30,000.
Now the Foveran Community Council has arranged a get-together this evening at the Newburgh Public Hall to discuss how the bridge could be saved.
The group has argued that the crossing’s condition has deteriorated since Aberdeenshire Council took legal responsibility for it 19 years ago.
Community council secretary, Glen Douglas, said there was still time to come up with alternatives before the bridge is torn down.
Mr Douglas said: “Although they have agreed to demolish the bridge, if the community council come up with an economic and viable solution to the bridge then the (Formartine area) committee will consider it – provided the demolition contract has not been signed.
“The community council is going to explain to the people of Newburgh what is happening with it and why it has happened.
“We are exploring possibilities for the saving of the bridge and it is hoped that any solutions will be put to the rest of Newburgh at the public meeting.
“The committee have advised that if the residents of Newburgh can come up a realistic and sensible plan for the saving of the bridge it will be considered by them.”
One of the ideas being floated by the group is to fundraise for the £500,000 needed to repair the bridge.
The crossing – one of three in the town – was donated to Newburgh by one of its most famous sons, Captain Thomas Fiddes Spalding, in 1902.
Tonight’s meeting will be held on Monday, May 25 at 7pm.