PINWHERRY Bridge was left severely damaged last week after being struck by a hit-and-run driver
The bridge outside Pinwherry Primary School has suffered yet more damage after being hit by a lorry – and the local community council says it is sick fed up with on-going damage.
Pinwherry and Pinmore community councillors are now offering a cas
h reward for information leading to the identification of the vehicle that caused the damage.
Peter Walker, chairman of the community council, said: "The incident took place between 5pm and 5.30pm last Tuesday evening. The amount of damage that the vehicle must have sustained in hitting the bridge someone must know about it, be it a witness or a repair garage.
"At our recent public meeting, concerns were expressed that many of our ancient and historic stone bridges are getting damaged by the increased heavy traffic now using the A714, which was never build to take 44 tonne vehicles.
"Any person with information can contact the Carrick Gazette or Girvan Police Station."
South Ayrshire Council had already planned to meet with the community council to discuss and view the A714 for themselves, as complaints had been raised over safety fears on the main Girvan to Newton Stewart route.
After viewing the damaged bridge, they began scheduling work towards repairing it.
A spokesman for South Ayrshire Council said: "We took immediate action as soon as we were notified of this most recent incident.
"An engineer from the council's bridges section visited the site to assess the extent of the damage.
"Later the same day, council operatives erected temporary red and white barriers over the length of the parapet which had been dislodged into the river.
"We are currently arranging for the necessary repairs to be carried out as soon as possible."
Pinwherry residents are concerned that repair work to the bridge could be done in red brick instead of stone, but South Ayrshire Council was quick to calm those fears.
The spokesman continued: "Pinwherry Bridge has 'Listed Building' status, and as such the reconstruction of the parapet will have to be carried out using masonry to match the original stonework.
"An application for listed building consent will be submitted to the planning authority next week. The repairs will be carried out as soon as all arrangements are in place."
SAC's Head of Roads Kenny Dalrymple met with Mr Walker from Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Council last Wednesday to look at ways of improving safety on the A714.
As well as seeing the damaged Pinwherry bridge, Mr Dalrymple was shown other danger areas such as the badly damaged soft verges, where in some cases the ruts are 12 inches deep.
Members of Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Council are seriously concerned that if a vehicle slips into one of these ruts, the driver will lose control of the vehicle and a serious accident may occur.
