Dumfries and Galloway Council officials had 'no alternative' but to close Kirkcudbright Bridge

Locals had just one hour’s notice that the crossing was to be shut to vehicles due to safety concerns about the condition of the structure.

Dumfries and Galloway Council officials say they were left with “no alternative” to close Kirkcudbright Bridge.

Locals had just one hour’s notice that the crossing was to be shut to vehicles from the evening of March 21.

The move came after engineering experts discovered the bridge was in such poor condition, it would not be capable of supporting a three tonne weight limit – the minimum requirement for the UK road network.

Interim assistant director of transport infrastructure, Karen Brownlee, told councillors: “We didn’t take the decision that we took very late on Friday afternoon lightly.

“We thought about the consequences of not closing the bridge.

“To ensure the safety of the community, the public, the visitors in Kirkcudbright we had no alternative but to progress with that emergency closure.”

Ms Brownlee told Thursday’s full council meeting that consultants Mott MacDonald had in the lead-up to the closure said there may be safety concerns over the bridge, however it wasn’t until just before 4pm on the Friday they officially confirmed the “bridge did not comply”.

The bridge was closed by 7pm – although economy and infrastructure committee chairman Ian Blake said that following two cases of vehicles still using the bridge, concrete barriers had to be installed.

He added: “Of course it is acknowledged that the bridge closure affects residents, businesses and tourists, but I must emphasise the safety of the public mist be considered paramount.”

Talks are ongoing with the RNLI and Coastguard about creating a parking area on the Merse side of the bridge where crew could leave their cars before using the crossing to get to their stations should there be a call-out.

At present, the fire brigade is using its station in Gatehouse to respond to any callouts on that side of the River Dee.

The full report from Mott MacDonald is due to be presented to the council this week, with the issue also to be discussed at April’s economy and infrastructure committee.

Dee and Glenkens Councillor Dougie Campbell was concerned about the impact on tourism – especially ahead of Easter – and said: “There’s going to be literally hundreds and hundreds of people converging on ward three who are on the other side of the Dee and would normally use the bridge to get into the town.”

Ms Brownlee said the next steps would include a refinement analysis of the Mott MacDonald report and the issues raised.

She said: “For me those next steps have to include repair for potentially a short term and a longer term. We don’t know at this moment if that is viable and possible.

“It has to include a replacement bridge and we don’t know the detail around that at this moment at this moment in time.

“There has to be options there in terms of potentially a temporary bridge. We don’t know the options around that but our knowledge at the moment is where temporary bridges have been put in place for pedestrians, I’m sure there’s examples out there for lower weighted vehicles as well.”