Information Bulletin
06 May 2005
Bressay Bridge Consents Move Forward
The Bressay Bridge moved one step closer to construction this week when the Scottish Executive told Shetland Islands Council on Tuesday 3rd May 2005 that the Scottish Ministers will not need to consider the Council’s appeal against the Lerwick Port Authority’s (LPA) decision to refuse a Works Licence under the Lerwick Harbour Order Confirmation Act 1974. According to the Executive, a Works Licence is unnecessary because of the Council’s separate application for a “Road Scheme” made under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. A “Road Scheme” is required before a bridge can be built over navigable waters.
The Council had been of the opinion that a works licence was unnecessary and had queried this with the LPA but they had insisted upon its submission. The Council is pleased however that this decision means that one more hurdle has fallen in its efforts to build a bridge to Bressay.
Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Jim Irvine, said “It is a great pity that the Council had to waste time and money preparing, submitting, waiting for decision and appealing against LPA’s refusal but I am nonetheless delighted that the Scottish Executive agrees with the Council that the works licence was unnecessary in the first place. However, it was submitted at the insistence of the LPA.”
Executive Director of Infrastructure, Graham Spall said, “Throughout the entire process the Council has endeavored to accommodate the LPA wherever possible. In this case we have had to do work that has proved to be unnecessary but I hope that the effort, which was made in order to maintain good relations with the LPA, will be rewarded in the form of closer co-operation between the LPA and the Bridge Project Team to avoid any further unnecessary work in the future.”
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