Long-awaited plans to replace a rickety footbridge at a north-east beauty spot have been tabled by council chiefs.
The 92-year-old Ladies Bridge at Cruden Bay provides a vital link between the village and its award-winning sands. It has been hailed by locals as crucial to the local tourist trade.
In recent years, the dilapidated crossing has been forced to close several times, leading to a noticeable downturn in visitors.
Now Aberdeenshire Council has unveiled plans for a replacement bridge. The project will involve creating a new timber superstructure, and reinforcing the existing concrete piers.
It is hoped that the work will prolong the 170ft crossing’s life by another 50 years.
The council’s planning application will go before members of the local area committee after a statutory public consultation exercise in the coming weeks.
Construction is expected to be carried out over a 14-week period next year.
A spokesman for the local authority said talks were ongoing with Cruden Bay Golf Club about the possibility of providing temporary access to the beach while the work is ongoing. In the past, when the bridge was shut, the only way onto the sands was going through part of the golf course.
He said: “It is envisaged that the works will be carried out in early summer, taking advantage of better weather conditions and increased daylight hours to complete construction in a timeous manner to minimise the impact on the local community.”
The new look bridge is likely to cost about £220,000. A more expensive package was originally considered by the local authority – at around £340,000 – but officers were instructed to look at ways of reducing the cost.
To save money, they decided against building a temporary structure while the work was ongoing.
The bridge was built in 1922 after a fundraising campaign by local women, hence the name Ladies Bridge.
It was shut in 2003 for six months and again in 2010 after it was battered by strong winds.