Community Windpower helping to make Belhaven Bridge safer for beachgoers

Thousands of locals and tourists who used Dunbar’s Belhaven Bridge will soon find themselves with a more comfortable walk to the sands of Belhaven Bay, after funding was secured to help make the bridge safer for people to use.

In 2020 the bridge and sands we’re used by huge numbers of people, as they took the shortest route to cross the Biel Water, the large stream that runs into Belhaven Bay, near the Surf Club.

But, with the sea continually moving sand away from the bridge, large boulders are being exposed leaving many people struggling to navigate the route, particularly small children and the less mobile.

Community Windpower, which owns and operates the nearby Aikengall Community Wind Farms, has stepped in to meet the cost of the work required on the bridge, with a grant of £8,738 from its community benefit funds.

Norman Hampshire, East Lothian Labour Councillor for the Dunbar and East Linton Ward, is delighted to secure the much-needed funding. He said: “We’re delighted and very grateful that Community Windpower is helping us to carry out the vital work to improve Belhaven Bridge, as we had no other source of financial support.

“Access to the beach side of the bridge is extremely poor and I watched many people last summer have to clamber of rocks and boulders to leave the beach at high tide.

“Both sides of the bridge will be improved and the renovated bridge will have a much safer and longer pathway either side for those using it, but it won’t stop the bridge being left ‘stranded’ at high tide.

“And, with an increasing number of people crossing Biel Water at low tide to access the beach, to surf, paddle board, swim or simply enjoy the sandy beach, the work is needed to avoid and potential future accidents.”

Work on the bridge and walkway, will included increasing the height and length of the walkways and adding hand rails. It’s hoped the work will start after the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, but this is subject to both the weather and Covid-19 restrictions.

Although it’s commonly known as the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ at low tide it helps tens of thousands of people every year avoid a 4km walk to enjoy the beach and sea.

Diane Wood, community benefits director at Community Windpower, said: “The Belhaven Bridge is an iconic sight in East Lothian and we’re really pleased that our community benefit fund can help ensure the crossing is safer for people to use.

“With Covid-19 meaning more people are enjoying Belhaven beach and the amazing activities available, as a local business we want to continue supporting the area as we have done since 2009.

“Indeed Belhaven Surf Club near the bridge, which is proving to be a catalyst for people coming to the beach, was built with the help of £10,000 of funding from Community Windpower and BeGreen in 2019.

“We look forward to seeing the upgraded bridge and try it out, when conditions allow.”

Community Windpower is also running a joint Covid-19 crisis fund with BeGreen for people and organisations currently suffering due to the pandemic.

For more information please contact Cathleen Anderson at the BeGreen shop in Dunbar by calling 01368 863720 or emailing begreen@communitywindpower.co.uk.

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