Footbridge to be built despite row

STALLED plans for a controversial footbridge across the River Tay are back on track, it was announced yesterday.

Last year Perth and Kinross Council sparkled angry protests from local golfers after unveiling proposals to use the green on the signature 15th hole at Perth's North Inch golf course for one of the supports for a 2.6 million pedestrian bridge linking the "Fair City" with Scone.

Golfers said the bridge would destroy part of a "masterpiece" designed by golfing legend Old Tom Morris, a four-time winner of the Open Championship, who also designed Carnoustie, Muirfield and the Jubilee Course at St Andrews. The 15th hole at the publicly-owned North Inch course has been listed as one of the top 100 golf holes in the UK.

The council said yesterday it now had an agreement with the charity Capability Scotland for land it owns in Perth to be used for the Connect2 bridge project.