Decision on Cloddach Bridge funding will be made at the end of October after deferral
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A DECISION on the future of Cloddach Bridge – due yesterday (Wednesday, October 4) – has been delayed until the end of the month.
A special meeting of Moray Council was held on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the future of the bridge, which is near Birnie and was used by around 800 people per day before its closure in early 2022.
In March 2023, UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced funding of £1.5 million to repair the bridge in his spring budget. However, a new bridge is estimated to cost in the region of £3 million.
The remainder of the cost would have to come from matched-funding from Moray Council, unless the UK or Scottish Government provide funds. A full business case also needs to be prepared, which is expected to cost around £150,000.
Talks are currently ongoing on the possibility of the UK Government paying the full amount, the Scottish Government providing matched funding or Heldon Community Council getting funding.
It was also announced at the meeting that the funding offer from the UK Government would remain for a further 10 weeks – until June 14, 2024.
Therefore, councillors decided to delay any decision until the next full council meeting, which takes place on October 25.
Council leader Kathleen Robertson (Forres, Conservative) said: “With officers advising that dates would be missed for local residents accessing funding in time for a business case to be produced and submitted to release the UK Government funds, action was needed to allow residents and local groups to have more time to champion their cause.
“I was delighted when contacted by Douglas (Ross) to say that the funding award would be continued into the next financial year 24/25."
It is hoped that prospective funding will be agreed before October 25, giving councillors and community councillors a three-week deadline.
The topic will then be debated in full in the council chambers. The UK Government funding for the bridge – not one of Moray Council's 'priority bridges' – will either be rejected or accepted at that stage.
The SNP group requested in a June debate that the UK Government paid the full cost for the bridge's repair. The Scottish Government have also been asked for matched-funding by council leader Cllr Robertson.
Councillor Graham Leadbitter (Elgin City South, SNP) said he found it 'difficult' that the UK Government was 'dictating' what council funds should be spent on.
"Given the financial situation that we are in, I do find it a bit difficult that we are being dictated to," he said.
"It's forcing us to debate the reduction – or potential removal – of other priorities in order to match-fund a priority that we didn't have in the first place. I find that problematic."
Council leader Kathleen Robertson put forward a motion to defer the decision, which was seconded by Donald Gatt (Keith and Cullen, Conservative). The decision was unanimous.
