Without fanfare at some point today vehicles were allowed to finally use the new single track bridge at Balliemore. Use is ongoing and the single B836 is now fully open!
The bridge was undermined by the Balliemore Burn during an intense rainfall event in early October 2023. While the communities of Southwest Cowal will rejoice that the bridge has been replaced and is now open, questions are being asked about the procurement of both the eventual and the interim solution. Why did this replacement taken so long? How is it that this was not made an absolute priority and why has there not been clarity on completion dates – indeed how did the council end up promising an April 25 completion and find that it took a further 6 months for the project to be complete. And lastly, why-o-why is it only single track?
The Community Council is sure there are good answers to these questions, but they do require answering! If only to prevent a repetition of the same lack of urgency and impact on the economic and social wellbeing of our very rural communities.
