Demolished bridge cuts off access; residents protest new bridge design.
The old bridge helped farmers get to fields. Locals started using it to walk, especially with dogs. Now, they can’t reach those fields anymore. One resident misses his daily walks. He says people didn’t ask them about removing it.
They feel like they lost their path. He thinks the path was a public right of way. ScotWays is a charity about public access. They say paths used for twenty years become rights of way.
Network Rail says they owned the bridge. Businesses using it agreed to its removal. So, Network Rail didn’t need to ask locals. Businesses no longer needed that bridge.
Residents are also mad about another bridge. Westerton Lane Bridge got a makeover. It’s near the Mast Lane Bridge. It needed fixing for the train line project. Residents think the new bridge looks awful.
One person called it like from the Soviet Era. Someone else said it’s a concrete monster. People protested about both bridges. Officials will meet with Network Rail.
Network Rail understands the concerns. Westerton Lane needed an upgrade for safety. They said Mast Lane was for businesses. Now Westerton Lane provides access, only 200 meters away . They state the removal allows for electrification.