"Tremendous milestone" for new Lossie bridge as planning application is approved
The current footbridge at East Beach was forced to close in July 2019 due to safety concerns.
Last updated 4th Aug 2021
It's hoped more visitors will flock to Moray once a new footbridge is complete.
Planning permission was approved for a new £1.8m East Beach bridge in Lossiemouth yesterday.
It will be sited where the Esplanade side seawall currently sticks out toward the River Lossie and is where the original bridge is believed to have been situated prior to the 1919 construction of the familiar, now closed, wooden bridge.
The current footbridge at East Beach was forced to close in July 2019 due to safety concerns.
An attraction for people 'Moray-wide and beyond'
Lossiemouth Community Development Trust Treasurer, Rab Forbes is delighted planning has been approved.
He said: "This is a tremendous milestone.
"Now we can get down to the nitty gritty part of the project which the public will get to see.
"There's some final design work that will have to get completed. After that, the build phase is in two parts.
"The first part is to get some pilings into the river and then by next year, but it has by no means been decided yet, we would hope to put the new bridge on top of the new pilings.
"Once we get into early autumn, I would hope people will start to see some workings going on that will show the project is well and truly on track.
"Particularly this year, I've noticed a lot of people who have come to the town, but they have to just stand on the Esplanade and look across 70 yards to a beach they can't get on.
"The bridge will serve two major purposes, it allows people of the town to get onto these beach easily and exercise etc.
"I also hope it will be an attraction for people Moray-wide and beyond to see the bridge because I think it will be great to look at and to get onto the beach to enjoy what we have here."
Planning approval has been 'a long time coming'
Speaking of the approval, subject to a number of conditions, Chair of the Planning and Regulatory Services Committee, Cllr David Bremner, said: "It feels like this has been a long time coming, but there are set processes we must follow to allow planning approval and I’m delighted for the Lossiemouth community that we’ve reached this milestone.
“The next stage is for the contractor, Beaver Bridges, to finalise and submit the technical information, drawings and permits required for the associated construction work.
"At this point everything is still on schedule for the bridge to be operational by spring 2022 and I look forward to seeing it progress over winter."
The new bridge span is approximately 75m in length in an arched form.
A 3.5m wide footway with decking boards made of wood effect composite materials join 1.4m high parapets.
Bollards to prevent vehicular access will be placed at the end of the bridge.
Steelwork for the bridge will be finished in fluoropolymer coating and will sit atop pile driven columns and connect into ramps built either side.
Rock armour surrounds the entry points to the bridge. New footpaths will be installed to access the bridge and existing ones on the Esplanade side upgraded.
The new bridge is being funded by the Scottish Government and will be maintained by Moray Council following agreement earlier this year.