Buchan Area Committee Backs Bridge Call from Cruden Councillor

Members of the Buchan Area Committee of Aberdeenshire Council have unanimously backed proposals from Peterhead South & Cruden SNP councillor Stephen Smith that Aberdeenshire Council continue to fund monitoring, repairs and maintenance of the Ladies Bridge in Cruden Bay instead of handing that obligation back to the community when a legal agreement expires next year.

The bridge is an iconic landmark in the village and is the only means of accessing the acclaimed beach as well as being an integral part of the Coastal Path Network and North Sea Trail.

Commenting, Cllr Stephen Smith said:

“I’m pleased that we’ve now got the backing of the Buchan Area Committee on this. I think it’s a far better solution for the council to provide a new bridge and to take on the monitoring and maintenance of it in future. That would relieve the local community of the burden of having to fund any repairs or maintenance which might be required in the years to come.

“The bridge is a vital link not only for local people but for tourists and for the Coastal Path Network and the North Sea Trail so it’s important that we get this right from the outset and the expiry of the current maintenance agreement and the need for a new bridge gives us the opportunity to do that.”