Over to you...DGC

A PETITION calling on Dumfries and Galloway Council to look after any new footbridge over the River Annan has been handed to officials.

Annan A Tale of Two Bridges group (ATOTB), members of the public and politicians gathered outside the town hall on Tuesday morning to deliver the document.

More than 2500 people signed the petition which calls on the local authority to agree to inspect, adopt or maintain any new crossing.

The Cuthbertson Memorial and Diamond Jubilee footbridges were both washed away during bad weather in 2021.

Work has been ongoing ever since in a bid to replace the structures.

ATOTB, a committed group of volunteers, want to help bring the bridges back.

But in order for them to progress with any funding applications they need the support of the local authority.

Speaking on Tuesday, ATOTB chairman Stuart Thompson said: “It’s a real momentous moment now that we have secured all of these signatures. It obviously demonstrates that the local community are behind us.

“We are disappointed that the council chief executive Dawn Roberts could not accept the petition, but it will still filter through to the council hierarchy.”

Group member Fiona Robson added: “We thought if we could just get 1000 signatures then it would have a good impact. We’ve more than doubled that.

“We want it to be discussed at area level. We decided to hand the petition over here because we want Annan to be seen and heard.”

In attendance was Andrew Taylor, he added: “Annan needs the bridges, it’s their common right, and the local authority must support the people, because that’s what they are there for.

“From a historical point of view, the bridges have been so important for the community and the increasing need for open air exercise and being with nature.”

Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell and MSP Craig Hoy were also both in attendance to show their support. The petition is set to be raised at the upcoming Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee.