WATCH: Rogart landowner opens £50k new Dalmore Bridge
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Rogart Development Trust has celebrated its first major achievement on behalf of the scattered community.
A £50,450 new bridge across the River Fleet at Dalmore was opened at an official ceremony held on Monday afternoon.
Tressady Estate owner Laurent Hild, who owns both banks of the rivers and was required to give legal permission for the bridge to be built, performed the honours.
Watched by a small crowd comprising trustees, funding representatives and members of the community, Mr Hild cut a red ribbon to declare the 18 metre, wooden bridge open. He said he was delighted to do so.
Funding for the new structure came from Gordonbush Wind Farm Community Fund (£30,000); Kilbraur Windfarm Community Benefit Fund (£13,500); Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (£5,000) and the ward discretionary fund (£1,950).
In a short speech, Rogart Development Trust chairman Jonathan Hedges said there had been a crossing at the site for more than a century. The original bridge had been condemned and replaced with a suspension bridge in the 1980s after a petition for its replacement was launched.
He explained the need for a new structure emerged after the trust began to develop a Round Rogart walk – a priority identified following a community consultation.
Dalmore bridge was part of the planned walk but was discovered to be unsafe and had to be condemned.
“It has been quite a process and has taken since the summer of 2018 to complete,” said Mr Hedges.
“This is one of our first major projects - we are now guardians of this bridge and are pleased to look after it.”
He paid tribute to his colleague Kate Roach, saying she had undertaken “95 per cent of the work”.
Mrs Roach thanked all those who had given advice and support as the project progressed.
“It has been a long journey and a steep learning curve,” she said.
Rogart Development Trust is also working on a project to transform the redundant Rogart Auction Mart into a multi-purpose community hub.
