MP's alarm over condition of Naver bridge
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Sutherland MP Jamie Stone has said he was “alarmed” to see the condition of the 142-year old Naver bridge during a trip to the north coast last weekend.
An £8.7 million project to replace the bridge was halted by Highland Council on budgetary grounds after preparatory work costing thousands of pounds had been done.
Mr Stone said he had crossed the single-track road bridge, which crosses the River Naver near Bettyhill on the main A836 road, on his way to attend the official opening of the Strathnaver Museum last Saturday (see page 1).
“I was alarmed to see the condition of the bridge,” he said. “The bad state of its surface paintwork indicates to me that there is considerable corrosion of the structural metal lying beneath it. Furthermore one of its stone end parapets has collapsed.”
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Mr Stone continued: “In the event of this bridge failing, the only alternative way of crossing the Naver is to leave the A836, drive south down the Naver and cross to Rhifail before proceeding north again to Bettyhill. This would be an immense detour - one that would overburden the narrow roads involved, greatly inconvenience local people and be almost impossible when North Coast 500 (NC500) traffic is at a peak.
“Indeed when viewed from an emergency service perspective, it is unthinkable.”
Mr Stone said that as an MP he had “no locus in roads and transport”, which were a matter for the Highland Council and the Scottish Government.
But he added: “Nevertheless, if the council’s decision not to proceed with the new bridge is based on budgetary considerations, then I would be very happy to write to the Scottish Government asking them to financially assist the council so that this vital replacement bridge can be constructed.”
Last month Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant called on the authority to rethink its decision to stall the bridge project.
She said she had been contacted by constituents in the area concerned about the bridge’s safety.
