Angus villagers’ safety fears during £3m rail bridge project

Craigo: Villagers in Angus are worried about a £3 million rail bridge project. They say it has created a road safety mess.

Work started last September on the east coast line near Montrose. The first step was to replace the bridge to keep access to the village.

However, the new setup is too narrow for buses. Now, locals must walk across a temporary bridge, which is risky for kids and the elderly.

The village feels stuck in a blame game between Angus Council and Network Rail. The Craigo Community Association has contacted the Health and Safety Executive for help.

Daniel Clarke, the association’s secretary, said they were promised a like-for-like replacement. But the temporary bridge is too tight for big buses.

A small shuttle bus was provided for kids and others, but it has now stopped. People must walk across the narrow bridge instead.

While it’s not a long distance, the bridge is narrow and hard to see. With winter here, there are concerns for the elderly and school children.

The first day back to school was chaotic, especially since it was bin day. There is a walkway next to the bridge, but it hasn’t been connected.

Villagers are being asked to walk through a construction site where machinery is moving. That’s why they reached out to the HSE.

Mr. Clarke mentioned that the situation is short-term but has become a bit of a mess.

Temporary Craigo Shuttle Bus ‘Expensive’

Angus Council leader Bill Duff met with the group. He said the minibus service was too costly and unplanned.

Mr. Duff stated that this issue is due to Network Rail. They didn’t need planning permission, and the council was unaware of their plans.

The council mentioned that their public transport pages have updated information. Passengers should go to the designated area for usual services.

Network Rail has not yet responded to requests for comments.