Campaigners fighting to protect bridges in Dumfries and Galloway have claimed the council was wrong to say proposed works don’t need planning permission.

Highways England plans to fill the arch of the 19th century bridge which crosses the route of the old Stranraer to Dumfries railway line at Lochanhead near Beeswing.

And similar proposals for Kirtlebridge were branded “cultural vandalism” by farmer Dr Iain Gow whose land would be “split in two”.

As Jacobs, agents for Highways England, described the work as repairs the council decided it did “not require a grant of planning permission”.

However, members of the Reopening the Dumfries-Stranraer Railway Group say other local authorities have insisted planning permission is needed to carry out similar work in their area.

The group’s Chris Rosindale said: “What they’re proposing at Lochanhead and Kirtlebridge are not repairs. Little or no work will be carried out to the existing bridges.

“They will be creating a new and substantial structure which buries most of them. The council is guilty of a planning blunder with potentially serious long-term consequences.”

Members of the group fear that the infilling work would prevent rail routes being reopened.

Dr Gow has similar concerns relating to the structure at Kirtlebridge which is on the old Solway junction rail route.

He said: “At a time when we’re trying to encourage more people to adopt sustainable forms of transport and exercise more outdoors, the old line offers the potential to extend the currently proposed rail trail connecting Annan via Chapelcross and on to Kirtlebridge.

Lochanhead Bridge near Beeswing.
Lochanhead Bridge near Beeswing.

“We need to see this fabulous infrastructure as an opportunity to build a better future, not put it beyond use for short-term asset management purposes.

“At very least, the council has a duty to ensure that backward-looking schemes like this are properly scrutinised to ensure the public interest is best served and owners adjacent to the structures are not disadvantaged.

“ It’s time for the council to do the right thing.”

The council insists “infilling would not preclude its possible excavation in future” should the reopening of rail lines be proposed.

Highways England manages the Historical Railways Estate across the UK on behalf of the Department of Transport.

In a letter to the council last year, Jacobs said infilling was needed to “remove the associated risk of structural collapse and harm to the public”.

A council officer replied in an email that as the works were classed as repairs they “do not require planning permission”.

However, the Dumfries-Stanraer Railway Group has also pointed out that The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 states councils should preserve old railway bridges for possible future transport requirements.

And Mr Rosindale claims the council has a specific policy “against any development on or adjacent to former railway routes with a reasonable prospect of being re-used”.

He added: “Despite this, the council granted consent for a damaging infill scheme without seeking sufficient detail to make an informed judgement. It needs to rectify this perverse decision before it’s too late.”

A council spokesman said he was unable to provide a response as the relevant officer was on holiday.