Following the news that Moray Council has now awarded a contract for the reconstruction of Foths Bridge on the C2E road at Thomshill, Moray MP Douglas Ross said:
“I’m pleased that work will start next month to repair the bridge which provides a vital connection for our rural communities.
“When I met on site with local residents following the closure, the importance of this route was made clear by the large numbers who attended.
“The bridge was damaged way back in 2019 and having lobbied this issue since then alongside my colleague Councillor Marc Macrae, I welcome the fact that a date has finally been set for the works to commence, but it should never have taken this long.
“Local residents have rightly been frustrated by the delays and Moray Council should have treated this road as a far greater priority than they have.”
Councillor Marc Macrae (Fochabers Lhanbryde) added –
“Following the closure, along with local residents I was very disappointed that budgetary pressures meant that it was unlikely the council would undertake any repair works for some considerable time.
“Working together with Douglas and my councillor colleagues we continued to raise this matter with officers and as part of the Conservative proposals for 2021 we sought to bring forward the replacement of the bridge from the proposed dates of 2026/27.
“Thankfully this was agreed, and works will begin the week commencing 4th October and I am told they will take around four to five weeks to complete.
“Douglas and I are grateful to the residents for their patience and their continued efforts to see these works undertaken. We look forward to the bridge and the road reopening.”
