AN EDINBURGH local has raised concerns after claiming that the bridges in one of the city’s nature reserves seem to be falling apart due to wood rot.
An Auld Reekie resident who frequents the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve has reported seeing the condition of wooden bridges in the area getting progressively worse.
He claims to have reported the state of the bridge to the City of Edinburgh Council multiple times in the past two years and has allegedly been told that they are inspected regularly.
Despite this, the local says the council is “ignoring what they observe” and has called for action to be taken, after three rotting footbridges in Colinton Dells, over the Water of Leith, were closed between 2019 and 2022.
In a snap taken yesterday, one bridge in the nature reserve is seen with a chunk completely missing, exposing walkers to the drop below.
The reserve is an area of natural beauty and is a popular site for dog walkers, ramblers, and runners.
The concerned walker says that the council is choosing to “ignore the warnings” about the bridges though, reasoning that “prevention is better, and cheaper, than cure”.
In a social media post yesterday, the local shared the photo of the bridge, with a piece broken off exposing rotten wood on its underside.
He wrote below: “Bridges in Hermitage of Braid are rotting.
“I’ve reported this a number of times to Edinburgh City Council over the last two years and been told they are inspected regularly.
“It doesn’t look like it. Photo today.”
Speaking today, the unnamed local said: “The Hermitage of Braid is a public amenity. A great green space linking Liberton to Comiston/Braids. A beautiful area for wildlife.
“It is a little glen that is created by the Braid Burn. As such it has a few bridges that make the path through the glen viable.
“Progressively, these wooden bridges have shown signs of rotting and decay.
“I’ve reported a number of times to the council, who clearly ignore the warnings, saying that they inspect the path regularly. Clearly ignoring what they observe.
“In the last year they’ve put down a couple of temporary plastic pedestrian covers over rotting timbers.
“I understand the council have priorities but they also have form – Water of Leith walkway was closed in parts for years due to maintenance issues – I’d rather this didn’t happen here too.
“The other bridges are in similar condition. Surely prevention is better, and cheaper, than cure.”
The City of Edinburgh Council has advised that this issue is known to them – a temporary patch has been put in place and permanent fix will be made as soon as possible.
