A POPULAR Aberdour restaurant has seen a drop in trade since a footbridge at the harbour collapsed when storms raged through the village.

Room with a View at Hawkcraig Point say customers are now “by-passing” the eatery, which lies on the Fife Coastal Path.

The bridge at Harbour Sands suffered significant structural damage due to weight of water arriving at the shoreline in August.

This week, Fife Council’s transportation team said they intend to replace the the footbridge – but it could take several months before it re-opens.

Hannah Norman, who runs the family restaurant, said: “It is definitely affecting us as we have customers by-passing the property.

“We saw a drop as soon as the bridge collapsed.

“It’s lunchtimes that are most affected as we’d often get people come in as they wandered down to the harbour.

“As they have to go all the way around they just turn back and go to the high street.”

The detour takes walkers all the way through the village and past the station before eventually making their way to Hawkcraig Point.

Before, it was just a short walk along the harbour.

“A lot of our customers who had a table booked in the evening have arrived late because they’ll walk from the station down to the Harbour and realise they have to go all the way around,” Hannah added.

“For us, we need Fife Council to do something as soon as possible.

“It’s a major part of the Fife Coastal Path and it’s the part where people enjoy walking the most.”

The council have removed the bridge completely as it was a danger to the public and funding is being sought for its replacement.

Designing the structure and everything that comes with it could take several months though.

Aberdour Community Council will be pressing for a temporary footbridge to be erected in the meantime to help the public and Room with a View although the council have said it is unlikely to be feasible.

Chair Ian Fleming said: “I am no civil engineer but I can see that the damage is extensive.

“It is quite a significant detour around the village because the path is inaccessible.

“I would hope because it is a major part of the village and the coastal path that it will be made a priority.

“People have asked if there can be a temporary crossing but we’re told that is unlikely.

“I know the foundations underneath have been washed away but I’m told that there was temporary scaffolding there when it collapsed in 1980.

“I’m glad they have removed the bridge as people were still trying to cross it but it was only by a wing and prayer that it was still standing.

“I know Room with a View has been impacted and it’s a popular restaurant so we’ll be asking what can be done on their behalf.

“But the bridge is an important link for Aberdour and Fife, not just the restaurant.”

In a update to the community council, Fife Council’s transport team said: “We intend to replace the footbridge, and are seeking funding from within Fife Council to do this at this time.

“Meanwhile, we have allocated the design of the replacement bridge including repair of the severely-damaged bridge abutments (including all necessary licences, consents, landowner negotiations, and utility provider discussions) to our colleagues in our bridges team who are best placed to carry out this sort of work.

“They unfortunately have a heavy workload at the moment due to various bridges damaged in the recent storms, so are not able to give us a definitive timescale on the replacement bridge but it seems likely it will take several months.

“Given the extensive damage to the abutments, a simple temporary footbridge is unlikely to be feasible at this time.”