Organisers of a popular fundraising event in a Moray town have confirmed it will go ahead next month.
Fears surfaced that Lossiemouth’s annual raft race would be scrapped after access to the footbridge to the town’s East Beach was shut off amid fears it might collapse.
The crossing marks the beginning and end of the event, which is in its 42nd year and is organised by the local RAF base.
Yesterday, the organisers confirmed it would go ahead on the planned date of Sunday, August 18 after it was deemed safe for the rafts to pass under the bridge.
And they have revealed that a quarter of the cash raised on the day will be put towards Lossiemouth Community Development Trust’s fighting fund to build a new bridge to replace the existing one.
Last year’s race raised £2,400, which was split between four separate charities.
This year’s event had previously been scheduled to be split three ways between Poppy Scotland, Cash For Kids and The Oaks palliative day care centre in Elgin.
The trust has already received a £3,000 boost in its online campaign to fund a new structure since it was shut last week – but have warned the £500,000 project will be impossible without outside backing.
Thousands of people arrive in Lossiemouth every year for the festivities with crowds lining both sides of the river as well as the bridge.
Changes for this year’s event mean that the competing rafts will enter the water slightly upstream from the crossing at Seatown but the structure will still be used as the finishing line.
Heldon and Laich councillor John Cowe said he was “delighted” the race was proceeding and hopes the waterfront will be packed to support local traders.
He said: “The organisers were concerned about whether it was safe to go under it or whether pieces of metal would fall off it.
“I’m absolutely delighted that the council has said it can go ahead. It’s very important in Lossiemouth’s annual calendar, it brings an awful lot of people in and generates a lot for the economy.
“The problems with the bridge have come at the worst possible time of the year. Under the present circumstances, anything that benefits the local economy is much needed.”
