North East candidates set out plan to secure funding for rural bridges

The Scottish Liberal Democrat conference in Edinburgh has today backed plans put forward by North East candidates for fixing the country’s crumbling bridges.

In 2023, RAC Foundation research estimated the bridge maintenance backlog across Scotland's local authorities to be £918,257,831.

The maintenance backlog is disproportionately distributed across local authorities, with Aberdeenshire reporting an estimated figure in 2024 of £100 million.

In 2023, the Scottish Government opted not to renew the Local Bridge Maintenance Fund.

The motion debated at conference called for the Scottish Government to reinstate the fund as a multi-year capital programme, with funding for strengthening bridges where load restrictions are creating a significant economic bottleneck, and emergency capital for bridges where deterioration threatens imminent closure of a lifeline route.

It also calls for the next Scottish Government to work in partnership with COSLA to agree a Strategic Bridge Renewal Programme, with the explicit goal of delivering a year-on-year reduction in the maintenance backlog and the number of load restricted bridges.

Yi-pei Chou-Turvey, lead candidate for North East Scotland, said

“Scottish Liberal Democrats understand that people are tired and frustrated of being let down by successive governments.

“It’s ridiculous that a community like Birsemore can be cut off from their GPs and their schools in Aboyne for more than two years due to bridge closures.

“My party wants to get Scotland moving again. That’s why plans like this are so important.

“If you want a local champion who will stand up for your community and deliver change with fairness at its heart, then you should back the Scottish Liberal Democrats on your peach, regional ballot in May’s election."

Isobel Knights, candidate for Angus South, said:

“Local authorities must receive fair and adequate funding to fully service their communities, moving away from short-term 'patch-up' repairs towards long-term resilience.

“Thanks to SNP cuts, local authorities have never been more strapped for cash.

“The Scottish Liberal Democrats are committed to a strong rural economy and the protection of lifeline transport services.”