Request 101004063445

I wish to make a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 regarding the Bailey Bridge at Broom of Moy, Forres, including the original Bailey Bridge and the extension constructed as part of the River Findhorn Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Please provide the following information and copies of any relevant documents, reports, correspondence, agreements, drawings, inspection records and meeting minutes where applicable.

Ownership and Responsibility
1. Who is the legal owner of the original Bailey Bridge?

2. Who is the legal owner of the bridge extension constructed as part of the River Findhorn Flood Alleviation Scheme?

3. Which organisation is responsible for the inspection, maintenance, repair and replacement of:
a) the original Bailey Bridge;
b) the flood alleviation bridge extension; and
c) the bridge as a complete structure?

4. Has the original Bailey Bridge ever been formally adopted by Moray Council? If so, please provide the date and copies of the relevant agreements.

5. Please provide copies of any legal agreements, asset transfer documents, maintenance agreements, servitudes, leases or other documentation that determine ownership or maintenance responsibilities.

Asset Management
6. Is the bridge included within Moray Council's bridge or structures asset register? If so, please provide:
a) the asset reference;
b) its inspection category;
c) its maintenance classification; and
d) its current condition rating.

Structural Inspections and Safety
7. Please provide copies of all structural inspections, principal inspections, general inspections, condition surveys and engineering assessments carried out on the original Bailey Bridge during the last twenty years.

8. Please provide copies of equivalent inspection reports for the bridge extension.

9. Please provide details of:
a) any structural defects identified;
b) corrosion assessments;
c) fatigue assessments;
d) load assessments;
e) scour assessments;
f) safety concerns; and
g) recommendations arising from any inspection.

10. Please provide details of any weight restrictions, traffic restrictions, pedestrian restrictions or safety notices that have been considered or implemented.

Repairs and Maintenance
11. Please provide details of all repairs, strengthening works, maintenance works and emergency works undertaken on both the original bridge and the extension since the flood alleviation works were completed, including:
a) dates;
b) nature of the works;
c) cost of each project; and
d) who funded the works.

12. Please provide copies of maintenance schedules and planned future maintenance programmes.

Flood Alleviation Scheme
13. During the design and construction of the River Findhorn Flood Alleviation Scheme:
a) what assessment was undertaken of the condition and remaining life of the original Bailey Bridge;
b) was replacement of the original bridge considered;
c) what engineering options were evaluated;
d) why was the decision taken to extend rather than replace the original bridge?

14. Please provide copies of any business cases, option appraisals, engineering reports or committee reports relating to those decisions.

Contingency Planning
15. Please provide copies of any contingency plans, emergency response plans or risk assessments prepared if:
a) the original Bailey Bridge became structurally unsafe;
b) the bridge required closure;
c) the bridge failed inspection; or
d) the bridge became unusable due to flood damage or structural deterioration.

16. Please provide details of any alternative access arrangements identified for residents, businesses, emergency services, utilities and maintenance vehicles should the bridge be closed.

17.Has Moray Council ever identified the bridge as being a critical access route? If so, please provide supporting documentation.

Risk Management

18.Please provide copies of any risk registers relating to the bridge or the River Findhorn Flood Alleviation Scheme where the bridge is identified as a risk or dependency.

19.Please provide copies of any correspondence between Moray Council and:

a) Transport Scotland;

b) SEPA;

c) consulting engineers;

d) contractors;

e) landowners; or

f) insurers, relating to the structural condition, ownership or future of the bridge.

Future Plans 

20.Does Moray Council currently have any plans to:

a) repair;

b) strengthen;

c) replace; or

d) decommission the original Bailey Bridge or any part of the bridge structure?

21.If so, please provide copies of any feasibility studies, funding applications, engineering reports or project plans.

General

22.If Moray Council considers that another organisation is responsible for any part of the bridge, please identify that organisation and explain the basis for that conclusion.

23.If any of the requested information is already publicly available, please provide the relevant links or references.

In accordance with Section 15 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I request that you provide advice and assistance if any part of this request would benefit from refinement.

If any information is withheld, please specify:

a) the exemption(s) relied upon;

b) why those exemptions apply; and

c) the public interest test where required.