Monday, April 09, 2012

Michael Green calls for Firhall Bridge to be widened

Commenting on his election Facebook page Independent candidate Michael Green states:

"Not campaigning over the Easter break and just back from a cycle round the river.The Firhall bridge really needs to be widened for disabled access. This point was made to me earlier in the week and I totally agree; it must be so frustrating for people in wheelchairs finding themselves unable to use the bridge."

Most gurnites will be aware of the present state of the bridge but if anyone is not up to speed here's a few pictures that were published recently.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whats the price of Sand in the Sahara
these days.

Anonymous said...

Where's the point in widening it for wheelchair users if they can't get their wheelchairs up on to the bridge in the first place?

MURD DUNBAR said...

Extract from E--Mail
The Council is willing to commit in principle to improve access at the Firhall Bridge, Nairn within the life-time of the current Capital programme (ending 2013/14). However, the exact timing of this investment will be dependent upon:
In the interim, the Council has instructed that the redundant water-pipe on the bridge be removed as a priority at a cost of approximately £2,000.

murd

Graisg said...

@ One sandwich short, there's taking the piss and there's taking the piss, your comments are inappropriate for this subject.

Anonymous said...

I note several stories on the GURN site that relate to bridges. I highlight the work on the bailey bridge at the harbour. This will re-instate an all users route that enables a circular path encompassing the town centre (tea shops and holiday gifts), crossing the Jubilee Bridge, along the river, crossing at the sewage bridge or the bailey bridge and passing the harbour (statue to the fisherwoman), on to the links and Central beach, through Viewfield (not forgetting Nairn Museum). This lower river way should be promoted as the all user route.
I copy an extract from the Fieldfare Countryside for All web site - "That won’t mean making every path on the newly published core path plans fully accessible as long as they provide choices for disabled people as to where they can go, the sort of environments in which they can expect good accessibility and the range of experiences they can gain from using the network". This makes sense to me.
There is a pragmatic reality check that is required because the Scottish Government is not funding the network of Core Paths that all local authorities have been tasked to identfy. Honestly, I am struggling to see why the Council considers the removal of a redundant water pipe as a priority and is spending £2,000 (email received by Murd). The primary schools in Nairn could do with ink for their printers!

MURD said...


The Equality Act 2010 replaced the Disability Discrimination Act and incorporates the duty to make reasonable adjustments. Under this duty, the Council has a responsibility to take reasonable steps to remove physical barriers to access where this puts disabled people at a substantial disadvantage compared with people who are not disabled.

murd

pram pusher said...

Have you ever tried to take a pram across the bridge you cannot turn and have to come down the narrow and steep steps backwards with the pram and child try doing that if you want to struggle with something.
I enjoy taking my grand children as do others around the river and the sooner a ramp is put in-place the better.
P.S Why don't you volunteer to fill the ink and do your bit for the community.
Pram pusher

Anonymous said...

Wheres the money going to come for this? Also due to the design of the bridge it would need to be totally redesigned. There are plenty of other places for people with buggies, wheelchairs etc to be walking.

Anonymous said...

Mickey mouse calls for Nairn High Steet to be paved with gold!

Only one party stand up for Nairn, Highlands and Scotland, and that's the SNP!

Other parties are Englihed based with Scottish sub branches, etc.

Do your duty in May vote and give to digits to these foreign based parties!

Evan McPhail

Graisg said...

I should imagine you will be voting SNP 1&2 Evan.
What about 3,4,5 etc? Will you bother?

Anonymous said...

Together we'll stand divided we'll fall. Snp's own words on their tv campaign.

Anonymous said...

We had to carry our prams accross the firhall bridge, we were just glad there was a bridge. What a difference 30 years make to what you expect from life!!