Perth and Kinross councillors vote to save listed Victorian railway bridge in Pitlochry from being dismantled and replaced
18.12.2023 - 18:37
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Perth and Kinross councillors have voted to save a listed Victorian railway footbridge from being replaced with an "ugly" accessible bridge.
Network Rail's plans to remove and replace the iconic footbridge at the A-listed Pitlochry Railway Station were recommended for approval by council officers.
But when Perth and Kinross Council's (PKC) Planning and Placemaking Committee met on Wednesday, December 13, councillors refused the application by nine votes to two calling the design of the replacement bridge "appalling" and a "carbuncle".
Pitlochry Railway Station is A-listed and sits within the popular tourist town's conservation area. The station's listed building status includes the main building, Platform 2 building, the platforms, footbridge, signal box and a water fountain. The footbridge also features a rare George V postbox.
Network Rail sought Listed Building Consent from PKC to remove and replace the cast iron footbridge as it does not have step-free access. The proposed replacement accessible footbridge would span 20 metres and have lifts.
Objectors recognised the need for accessible access but argued the proposed solution was "wholly inappropriate". Rail passengers unable to use the current bridge leave Platform 2 via Armoury Road on the other side which leads round via an underpass.
Provost Xander McDade made a deputation to the committee on behalf of local residents in his Highland Perthshire ward. A regular user of the service, he explained to councillors most trains now stop further up the platform and the "majority" of services - heading both North and South - stopped on Platform 1 next to the main station building rather than across on Platform 2.
He told councillors: "I asked them [Network Rail] to consider
The website celebfans.org is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can
send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.