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Plans lodged for safety measures at historic Aberdeen city centre bridge

Councillor Bill Cormie
Councillor Bill Cormie

Plans have been lodged for safety measures to address concerns at a historic Aberdeen crossing.

The city council proposals for Union Street’s B-listed Union bridge will be recommended for approval at next week’s planning development management committee.

The scheme would involve a safety barrier, in the form of a stainless steel parapet, at the granite structure overlooking the Denburn Road.

The upgrade is intended to provide protection and lighting at the spot which has been the scene of several accidents in recent years.

Plans have been lodged for Union Bridge
Plans have been lodged for Union Bridge

If listed building consent is approved, wires would be attached onto the stainless steel lampposts and to vertical posts along the bridge railings to help prevent people from falling.

The 130ft bridge spanning the Denburn Valley dates back to 1801 and it is the largest single-span structure of its kind in the world.

The new plans have the support of Police Scotland, local mental health charities, Historic Scotland and Scotrail.

However, the City Centre Community Council has objected on the grounds they are not sympathetic to the architecture of the historic crossing.

Dustin MacDonald
Dustin MacDonald

Chairman Dustin MacDonald said the group was not opposed to the additional safety measures, but had concerns about the design.

Councillor for Rosemount and Midstocket, Bill Cormie – who has been calling for action at the site for years – said he was relieved to see the scheme moving forward.

He added: “We really need to stop these incidents and Historic Scotland is quite keen on this design.

“The sooner this is done to stop these tragedies happening the better.

“The design is not perfect but we have got to go ahead with this and the bridge has been changed before, I think folk forget about that.

“We could go on and on but we’re talking about folk’s lives.”

Bill Cormie is happy to see progress
Bill Cormie is happy to see progress

A police spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland welcomes any measure which contributes to keeping people safe. We wrote to the Council in 2013 highlighting some safety concerns around Union Bridge which we asked Aberdeen City Council to consider.”

The planning documents state that councillors should consider “the impact of the proposal on the character and fabric of the Category B-listed Union Bridge” at next week’s committee meeting.

Anyone who feels they are struggling to cope is urged to contact the Samaritans by phone on 08457 909090, by e-mail at jo@samaritans.org or to call the Aberdeen branch on 01224 574488.