A local campaigner who is looking to save the Leith Pride Bridge has condemned the latest move by Edinburgh City Council to block the bridge with concrete structures.
Róisín Thérèse, was disappointed in the move and says that it seems to be an escalation by the local authority. She added that the council should be looking at more permanent solutions rather than wasting money on temporary fixes.
The bridge was condemned by the council at the tail end of 2021 as officials deemed the structure unsafe. But Róisín, who started a petition to save the bridge earlier this year, says that there are cost effective ways of repairing the structure that would still be cheaper than the demolition job.
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But bosses at the council appear to have made up their mind and have placed concrete blocks at the entrance of the bridge that is used by locals as a path to vital services and transport hubs. Róisín adds that the alternatives along Lindsay Road and a poorly lit cycle path are not safe for those with mobility issues.
She condemned the decision by saying: “The fact that the council has chosen to respond in this way, with no prior warning or local consultation, is incredibly disappointing. Having looked at the maintenance reports which I requested some months back, it is evident that the deterioration in the condition of the bridge has been obvious for years.
“I am unclear why the council has not intervened earlier when the necessary repairs may have been carried out at a point where they may have been less costly than they would be now. If the council has failed in its responsibility to maintain this structure in a timely manner, then it seems like it is still their responsibility to do so at this late stage in the day, even if it is more costly than it should have been.
“The point still stands that there are options for repairs, which could be carried out for considerably less than the cost of demolition which makes it seem like a matter of common sense. Spending money on temporary interventions is frustrating when we could be focused on a long term solution.
“Meanwhile, the diversion is currently inaccessible to wheelchair users due to bins overflowing and blocking the pavement. I continue to be baffled by their priorities and refusal to consider possible long term alternatives that would benefit the local community which has been so supportive of saving the Pride Bridge.”
Last week on August 17, councillor Scott Arthur, the Transport and Environment Convener, said that the council respected how important the bridge was to the community. Local pub Dreadnought for instance have been using it as a makeshift pub garden for some time.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “It has been necessary to install concrete barriers due to criminal damage to the measures put in place to protect public safety on the bridge which is currently being considered for demolition.
“I know how important this bridge is to the local community as a public space, and its closure has been a very last resort. The Council has liaised regularly with the Dreadnought Pub and others, including communicating plans to install these barriers.
"Structural engineers are clear that this 80-year-old bridge is coming to the end of its lifespan and local stakeholders have previously been made aware for many years that its demolition has been considered the only option. It’s thanks to careful monitoring by officers that we’ve been able to keep it open this long.
"Officers have spent a great deal of time considering various solutions to retain the existing bridge but unfortunately, due to its condition, they have concluded this is not viable. This is a significant, costly project and must be prioritised against several other projects of this scale across the city.
“Nonetheless, I am working with local ward councillors to double-check that demolition is the only viable option for this structure. I will place a report in the public domain on this in the near future, outlining options for the future of the bridge.
“Thankfully, if the demolition does proceed, there is a viable alternative walking and cycling route along Lindsay Road now that section of the Trams to Newhaven project has progressed. We will continue working with the local community to consider the future of this site.”
The council have been contacted for comment on the decision to put up concrete barriers.
A petition to save the bridge is available here.
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