East Lothian Courier | News | Action on rail bridge

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 8th May, 2008 07:00

Action on rail bridge

COMMUNITY leaders in East Linton have enlisted the help of East Lothian MSP Iain Gray, in a bid to get the village’s unsightly railway bridge repainted.

For the past four years, members of Dunpender Community Council have been campaigning to give the railway bridge, near to the old station, at the Bridgend area of the village, a fresh look.

Community councillor Robert Russell told the Courier: “We carried out a survey in the village roughly four years ago and this is one of a list of things we hope to do.

“The railway bridge is a rather dull grey, quite ugly and dirty as well.

“Even if just a couple of nice colours could be added to it, it would be much improved.”

Members also sought a refurbishment – new lighting and repainting – of the village’s frequently used footbridge, which crosses the River Tyne and connects East Linton’s doctors’ surgery at Station Road with East Linton Bowling Club, in Bank Road.

They spoke with county MSP Iain Gray shortly before Christmas and he contacted Network Rail to discuss the issue.

However, community councillors heard at their April meeting that, while Network Rail had agreed to carry out a “cosmetic repainting” of the footbridge and clear wild plants there, there were no plans to repaint the railway bridge.

Mr Gray had said that this was not a satisfactory response from Network Rail and promised to take the matter further.

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