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1 April 2004
Tay Estuary Forum looks back at the bridges
Photo opportunity 11.20am, Friday 2nd April, West Park Conference Centre, Perth Road, Dundee.
An expert on the Tay Estuary will tell how Dundee's famous Tay Bridges have affected the navigation and
economic potential of the River Tay at the annual Tay Estuary Forum this Friday (2nd April) while the RSPB
will say that global warming is reducing Scotland's biodiversity.
Bill Dow will tell the forum that the original design of the Tay Road Bridge had to be altered as a result of
careful research carried out in the 1950's at Queen's College, Dundee. It was found that the original spacing
of the piers would cause serious silting in the vicinity of Dundee harbour making navigation in and out of
Dundee difficult.
Bill, a former Principal lecturer at Dundee College of Education, will also tell the annual conference that
when the high girders of the first Tay Rail Bridge fell in 1879 the navigation channel to Perth was blocked
for eight months. Smaller ships managed to pass below the low girders. Larger ships bound for Perth and
Newburgh had to transship cargo at Dundee. The economies of these towns suffered considerably.
Bill's talk is part of the annual conference of the Tay Estuary Forum which is taking place at the University
of Dundee on Friday 2 April.
Kenna Chisholm from the RSPB will tell the conference that rising water levels and increased storminess
associated with global warming are reducing the area of land between defences and low tide levels resulting
in a dramatic reduction of saltmarsh and mudflat areas which are essential for a wide of birds and other
wildlife.
Chairman of the Tay Estuary Forum Professor Rob Duck from the University of Dundee said: "The Tay is an
estuary of national and international importance. It is thus essential that we debate the key issues and new
legislation that will affect the way that the local coastal zone is managed for future sustainability".
Other speakers will include Jeff Halket from Keep Scotland Beautiful who will give an update on water quality
results in the Tay Estuary and the improvements that still need to be made.
Contact Professor Rob Duck 01382 344528
By Jenny Marra, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk
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