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Contractor chosen for phase one of work to replace Lossiemouth's East Beach footbridge


By Lorna Thompson

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A CONTRACTOR has been chosen to carry out work to replace Lossiemouth's East Beach footbridge – which was closed more than a year ago on safety grounds.

Moray Council has awarded the contract to Shropshire-based Beaver Bridges, which will undertake the options appraisal and outline design of the proposed replacement.

This first phase is expected to take around three months, and will identify the best option and the estimated costs to regain access to the East Beach.

The bulk of this process will be paid for with funds raised by Lossiemouth Community Development Trust (LCDT) and the work will be used to inform the business case required to secure Scottish Government funding.

Subject to this funding being secured, the council will progress the project to the next phase – the design and build of the new footbridge.

Lossiemouth's East Beach footbridge. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
Lossiemouth's East Beach footbridge. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Both the council and contractor will work with the local community – and in particular with the LCDT – to deliver the replacement bridge.

Moray Council convener Councillor Shona Morrison said: "I’m pleased to hear the contract for the first phase of work has been awarded.

"Locals in Lossiemouth, and the many visitors to the town, will be thrilled to hear that plans for the replacement bridge are moving forward, and I look forward to hearing how the work progresses."

A spokesperson for the LCDT said: "The LCDT is delighted to hear that Beaver Bridges has been chosen to carry out stage one, the options appraisal, of the bridge project.

"We look forward to working with the company, Moray Council and the Scottish Government to help move the project forward as speedily as possible."

Welcoming the project’s progress, Moray SNP MSP Richard Lochhead said: "With the impact on hospitality of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lossiemouth bridge project is more important than ever to support economic recovery in Moray in the coming years.

"This is an iconic part of our beautiful Moray coastline and the awarding of this contract is a vital step towards replacing the footbridge at Lossiemouth and reinstating access from the town to the East Beach.

"It is vital that everyone keeps their foot on the gas to get the new bridge in place as quickly as possible."

LCDT hopes to have East Beach access restored by the end of 2021.

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