Highland Council under continuing pressure over 'unsafe' Naver bridge as MSP Maree Todd calls for work on new structure to go ahead
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Highland Council is being placed under continuing pressure to reinstate a £8.7 million scheme to replace the Naver bridge in north Sutherland after work was put on hold due to budgetary pressures.
Sutherland MSP Maree Todd has written to the local authority calling on it to proceed with a new bridge, much of the groundwork for which has already been undertaken at a cost of thousands of pounds.
An existing 142-year-old bridge crosses the River Naver on the A836 just over a mile from Bettyhill and the only alternative route is a 64-mile detour via Strathnaver and Strath Halladale.
Local people are concerned at the state of the current bridge which has corroded metal work, broken tar and crumbling stonework.
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Ms Todd contacted the council after taking a trip to the north coast earlier this month at the invitation of members of the Bettyhill community to see for herself the condition of the bridge. Also present was North, West and Central Sutherland councillor Marianne Hutchison.
They were escorted round the bridge by Murdo Gordon, a local paramedic, and Jim Mackenzie, who highlighted the areas where it was felt the structure was in a bad state.
Ms Todd said this week: “I have now written to Highland Council following my recent visit to Naver Bridge where I met with community representatives to discuss the condition of the bridge and the future of the replacement project.
“Considering all the preparatory work for the new bridge project has been undertaken to ensure it was shovel ready, I can empathise with the community’s frustrations over the delay and the uncertainty over when the project is likely to move forward.
“It remains crucial that the community is reassured of the Highland Council’s commitment to delivering a new bridge and a clear and definitive timeframe is provided as soon as possible."
Cllr Hutchison said: “I share the concerns of communities along the north coast regarding the delay to the Naver Bridge project. I have raised this robustly with the budget team at Highland Council and will continue to do so to ensure that members understand the very real need for the bridge to be replaced.
"Cllr Ken Gowans, chairman of the economy and infrastructure committee, has assured me that, if any bridge is replaced in Highland, the bridge over the Naver is top of the list."
Highland Council has said that a structural assessment of Naver Bridge was carried out in 2021 when it was found to be suitable for normal traffic including HGVs up to 40 tonnes. The bridge continued to be monitored and inspected on a regular basis and “remained a top priority".
