Kendoon - the village of the banned

VILLAGERS in a rural Scottish community say they have been left even more isolated by the closure of two footbridges that serve as a lifeline.

• Kendoon residents at the locked gate of one of the footbridges, which has a 'vital' role – giving access to a main road Picture: Bob Geddes

The structures have been closed by owner ScottishPower after engineers carrying out a regular inspection reported "accelerated levels" of corrosion that made them unsafe for public use.

ScottishPower says it is assessing what repairs are needed and it will be January before action can be taken.

The situation is a major blow to the community of Kendoon, near St John's Town of Dalry in Kirkcudbrightshire, which has lost access to public transport links because of the enforced closures.

The village is separated from the main A713 Castle Douglas to Ayr road by the Water of Ken and Water of Deugh.

Situated high in the Galloway Hills, Kendoon is often cut off during the winter by snow and icy roads. Instead of driving in and out, villagers can cross the bridges to the A713, which is cleared well before snowploughs get to the minor roads linking the village on the other side of the waters.

The 25 villagers, whose homes were built originally for South of Scotland Electricity Board (SSEB) workers employed on the Galloway Hydro Electric Scheme in the 1930s, said they were shocked when the power company told them the bridges were unsafe.

Residents' Association chairman David Lycett said: "This is a devastating body blow for our small community. The bridges provide an essential lifeline for non-driving residents to access public transport and for non-driving visitors wishing to visit friends in the village."

He added: "We recently formed the Residents' Association to represent the village in opposition to harsh charges proposed by ScottishPower, the owner and operator of the village's private water supply.

"In the past, the bridges have played a vital role by enabling food and medicine to be left for collection at the bus stop on the A713, when fallen trees or winter makes the B7000 to Dalry or Carsphairn impassable. It also provided a route for the doctor if one was needed in an emergency."

The majority of Kendoon's population is retired, and several are registered disabled. A few of the village's houses are used as holiday homes, but it has 17 permanent residents.

Ralph Rigg, who has lived in the village since 1995 said: "I really don't know how I am going to cope. I don't drive, and I'm already very dependent on friends and family helping me. But this is going to be much more difficult now that we have no access to the bus service."

A ScottishPower spokesman said: "Following a recent inspection by our civil engineers, ScottishPower was made aware of significant corrosion issues on the main supporting columns of the footbridges below Kendoon Power Station.

"Although the structures are not necessary to the operation of the power station, they are still subject to routine inspection and maintenance.

"The corrosion issue has left us with no other option than to close the bridges in the interests of public safety.

"ScottishPower will now be carrying out further detailed assessment of the bridges in order to determine a strategy for their long-term future."