Visitors to a beauty spot in Callander could soon be using a new footbridge.
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority wants to replace the bridge at Bracklinn Falls and has submitted an application to its own planners.
The proposed new bridge, over the Keltie River, would replace one demolished last year after signs of decay were spotted.
In documents submitted with the application, consultants said: “The falls are an iconic landscape feature in the National Park that have been visited and admired for hundreds of years – current annual visitor numbers are circa more than 70,000 per annum.
“The demolition of the timber bridge resulted in the Bracklinn Circuit walking route being incomplete and therefore the National Park are looking to reinstate the bridge and restore the walking route for tourists and the local community.
“The project area is within a highly sensitive landscape and the proposed bridge is over the Keltie Water – which is within the River Teith Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
“The woodland habitat is particularly suitable for bat activity and as such the previous timber bridge had bats living in it. These were removed under license to allow the bridge to be demolished and two bat boxes were erected adjacent to the western abutment as mitigation.
“The woodland banks of the Keltie Water are identified in the Ancient Woodland inventory. There will therefore be no trees felled as part of the works.
“A long-standing bridge (located at the lower level) was washed away by extreme flooding in 2004 and then replaced (with project support from the National Park) with an award winning timber bridge in 2010. In spring 2021 routine inspections of the bridge highlighted a number of concerns and the bridge was closed for safety reasons. Inspections of the bridge by an engineer and timber specialist in summer 2021 found evidence of serious rot and decay within all parts of the timber structure and following detailed consideration of the options, the decision was taken to demolish the timber structure.”
The consultants said the quality of the bridge had been a central consideration throughout the project and it has been designed to be sympathetic to the surrounding landscape whilst also achieving a 120 year design life.
The proposed bridge is to be 20 metres long and two metres wide and constructed from weathering steel.
“Weathering-steel is selected in response to a demanding climatic environment providing a long service-life and a ‘natural’ aesthetic appropriate to context,” said the consultants.
“Considering the proposed bridge is a direct replacement for a bridge that was demolished in 2021 due to damage, there is already a precedent set that this type of development in this location is acceptable.
“The proposed bridge has been designed to have a minimal impact on the surrounding natural environment once in place and also during the construction phase. Finally, there is public support and demand for the re-instatement of the bridge and consequently the completion of the popular walking route close to the residential area of Callander. This route will serve as an outdoor access area for residents within, and visitors to, the National Park and therefore approving this proposal would contribute towards fulfilling the local and tourist demands within the National Park.”
Park planners are expected to make a recommendation on the application in due course.
