Rachael Hamilton MSP has written a letter supporting the Union Chain Bridge restoration project to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as part of their application for the second round of funding.
The next funding bid to help restore the historic Union Chain Bridge will be made in May, and if successful, works will start early 2020.
The project is now in a one-year development phase after initial support for lottery funding was approved last March, securing a £360,000 grant. It has meant the £7.3million project can be progressed further, ahead of the second round bid this May.
Scottish Borders Council, Northumberland County Council, Friends of the Union Chain Bridge and Museums Northumberland – formerly the Woodhorn Charitable Trust - are working on the scheme.
The Union Chain Bridge was designed by Captain Samuel Brown and opened in 1820. It spans the River Tweed between Horncliffe and Fishwick, and is a fantastic example of civil engineering from that era. The bridge will also celebrate its 200th birthday in 2020.
Ms Hamilton penned a letter to the National Lottery Heritage Fund calling on them to carefully consider the project’s funding application given the bridge’s significance to the Borders.
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP, Rachael Hamilton said:
“When I was asked to support the application for the second round of National Heritage Lottery Funding, I was delighted to help out.
“The Union Chain Bridge is historically significant to the Borders and a key tourist attraction in the area.
“I want to wish the restoration project the very best of luck in its application for the next round of funding and I do hope the National Lottery Heritage Fund recognise the significance of this project”.