Meeting of the Parliament 21 January 2026
I agree with the point that regular surveys are required, which is why I put it in my speech. The problem is that Moray Council’s funding has been so depleted over the years that it has not always been able to do that.
However, I do not want to get into an argument and play the blame game. Those in the Garmouth community—I know that they have made representations to Richard Lochhead, too—are telling me distinctly that that is not what they want. What they want, ultimately, is for the bridge to be fixed. On Monday, I spent an hour and a half with the Scottish Dolphin Centre, talking about exactly that.
We owe it to the people of Moray, to communities from the Highlands to the Borders and to every rural village and hamlet that relies on these connections. Our bridges do not simply cross rivers and valleys—they connect people, futures and livelihoods.
As with many things that we discuss in the chamber, this is an election issue. Our communities are looking to us for help with it, so let us, in the Parliament, act decisively to protect Scotland’s rural bridges and recognise their vital place in our nation’s infrastructure.
17:27