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Incident at historic Aberdeen bridge prompts urgent calls for safety barrier

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A man has died after falling from an Aberdeen bridge.

Emergency services were called to Union Bridge at 6.30pm on Wednesday amid reports a man had fallen on the railway tracks.

Police yesterday confirmed he had died from his injuries.

The incident has now prompted fresh calls for a permanent safety barrier to be installed at the bridge.

Union Bridge has been lined by temporary fencing for more than two years, and the railings have been adorned with messages of support and the contact number for Samaritans.

Earlier this year, plans for a permanent partition to be installed on the B-listed bridge, which dates back to 1805, were approved by Aberdeen City Council.

But councillor Alan Donnelly, who represents the Torry and Ferryhill ward, has bemoaned there has been a lack of progress since that time.

Mr Donnelly walked past the scene just moments after the incident on Wednesday night and described seeing people “shaking and crying”.

He said: “Those temporary barriers are not doing the job and we now need to speed things up.


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“It is paramount that lives are saved here, we need to see some progress now.”

Midstocket and Rosemount councillor Bill Cormie has campaigned for years for a long-lasting solution to safety problems at the crossing.

Last night, he said: “I feel nothing but sadness for the people left to pick up the pieces.

“There’s no excuse, the funding is there and has been for nearly 10 years, there’s no need to have to wait for the city centre masterplan.

“But here’s another sad death and it’s the person’s family and friends who are now left to deal with it.”

The council confirmed that plans to install the barrier will be progressed alongside a £22 million revamp of Union Terrace Gardens, which is to be completed by 2020.