MP John Cooper has again called for the Army to put up a temporary bridge in Kirkcudbright after the Scotland Office claimed it was “powerless to act”.
Cooper has written to First Minister John Swinney after failed initial contact with the UK Government’s Scotland Office.
The Kirkcudbright Bridge, which crosses over the River Dee, had to be shut to vehicles until further notice in March, forcing drivers to make a six-mile detour.
The Dumfries and Galloway Conservative MP said: “While locals and businesses in Kirkcudbright struggle with the massive inconvenience of the closure of the bridge over the Dee to vehicle traffic – it means big detours – I wondered if the Royal Engineers might offer a short-term solution.
“Any use of the Army for civilian matters has to be approved by the Scotland Office but – incredibly – they say they cannot instigate anything and have to wait for a request from the Scottish Government. Talk about the tail wagging the dog!”
He added: “It’s jaw-dropping that a UK Government Cabinet Minister such as the Secretary of State for Scotland has to wait for the First Minister to act. So much for the supposed reset in relations between Westminster and Holyrood.
“It’s supposed to be two governments working together these days, but instead it’s two governments ignoring the South-West of Scotland, both hiding behind the Scotland Act and devolution instead of delivering action.”
Cooper said he has written to Swinney asking him to contact the Scotland Office about the use of the Royal Engineers, the Army’s bridging experts, at Kirkcudbright. However, he insisted he was “not hopeful” of any movement.
The bridge was suddenly closed on March 21 due to structural and safety issues.
Business Gateway representatives have been in touch with affected businesses to offer support.
The first of regular progress meetings on Kirkcudbright Bridge between council officers and elected members for the area will take place within the next couple of weeks, once council officers have definitive first steps after all initial engineering work has been done
