Fotheringham Bridge upgraded for wheelchairs, thanks to Peebles Callants
Tuesday, March 14 2006
Scottish Borders Councillor Nancy Norman yesterday officially reopened Fotheringham footbridge, near Peebles, following work to upgrade it for pushchairs and wheelchair users.
The new, ramped access at either end of the bridge in Hay Lodge Park is a long-cherished project of the Royal Burgh of Peebles Callants Club, which contributed £14,000 towards the upgrade cost. The remaining cost (around £21,000) came through SBC's Disability Discrimination Act Working Group and from individual donations. The upgrading was carried out by R Gladstone and Sons of Bonnyrigg.
The first wheelchair user to cross Fotheringham Bridge today was Janette Cook, Secretary of the Tweeddale Access Panel. She explained, "I wasn't able to get across the bridge at all before as there were too many steps. Now it will be great because I will be able to go to all the events in Hay Lodge Park. It will be good, too, for the local mums with pushchairs who want to take their children to the playpark at Hay Lodge."
Chief Callant, Len Bell, said, "The Club and all the community in Peebles feel that easier access to the bridge is a worthwhile
project for all visitors to the park, and the members of the Callants Club have worked very hard to raise funds.
The bulk of our fundraising came from the sales of our book 'Peebles and its people 2003'. We have also received tremendous
support and encouragement from local groups, especially Arthritis Care, Peebles Rotary Club, Tweeddale Access Panel and Peebles
Community Council through its Pride in Peebles initiative."
Local SBC Councillor Nancy Norman added, "The Council and the Callants Club have worked hard to enable the steep steps at
either side of the Fotheringham Bridge to be replaced with accessible ramps. I know that this facility will be very much appreciated
by the people of Peebles and especially wheelchair users, mothers with prams and the elderly."
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