Bridge blow on walking route

Feb 8 2011 by Iain Howie, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

RAMBLERS using a popular Perthshire walking route will need to trek further to cross a gorge – after a bridge was washed away.

A footbridge over the River Devon at Rumbling Bridge was broken up and swept downstream by torrents of water in flooding – said to be the worst in living memory – last month, leaving walkers with a 300-metre detour.

And that position is likely to be made permanent after Perth and Kinross Council said yesterday it would not be replacing the structure because there are alternative bridges nearby.

A PKC spokesperson said: “The upper footbridge in the Rumbling Bridge Gorge was hit by a deluge of water carrying a considerable amount of debris.

“The effect of this was to lift the bridge from its foundations and carry the remains of the structure some distance downstream.

“The central pier of the bridge was located on an outcrop of rock that stood above the river. This outcrop was only inundated infrequently when water levels were very high.”

The spokesperson added that the 25-year-old bridge was refurbished and elevated about 12 years ago, to prevent damage and improve water flow when the river was in spate.

But they said the exceptional circumstances last month meant that the bridge was washed away.

“Whilst the loss of the bridge is unfortunate, the council is not planning to replace the bridge because of the costs involved, the relatively low level of use and the availability of alternative crossings immediately downstream on the River Devon,” she added.

The Rumbling Bridge area is popular with walkers using networks of paths, including links with Crook of Devon such as the Millennium Walk.

According to local councillor Michael Barnacle, another bridge, yet to be officially opened, could provide an alternative crossing point, although a bridge at the gorge is also available.

Cllr Barnacle declared yesterday: “I would expect that the alternative bridges would need to be looked at to ascertain whether they are strong enough to be used as permanent replacements.”

The councillor added that he and others were investigating whether the flow of the river from a nearby reservoir could be reduced when there is a flooding risk to prevent a reoccurrence.