6/4/2007
Letters
Bridge story sounds like an April FoolI refer to the article regarding the canal bridge at Vale Road, Ash Vale, and have to say that I had to ‘double take’ the date of your issue because the article reads so much like an April fool item.
Ash Parish Council was told by Surrey County Council that this bridge required rebuilding “as a matter of urgency” some years ago and there was some considerable discussion about traffic diversion routes etcetera.
Probably the residents of Wharf, Prospect, Hutton and Heath Vale Bridge roads have yet to appreciate the likely increase in bus and other road traffic which will result from the diversions of local traffic, and also the businesses on the northern approach to the bridge are bound to be seriously affected through the loss of passing trade.
A notice advertising the necessary road closures has been in place since December 29 2005 and this has been extended to July 15 2007.
Thus the road closure has been pending 19 months — surely enough time for even Surrey County Council to ‘spring into action’?
Yes I know the county council has had financial and organisational problems but come on, these folk are supposed to be experts in what they do.
If the Department of Transport now refuses to grant a further extension for a period then so be it.
This may be to the parish’s disadvantage but perhaps then the county council will get its act together.
One of the various reasons given for the prolonged delay in starting the work is English Nature’s embargo on the work being carried out in certain months, in order to protect nesting rare bird species.
We are sympathetic to that objective but has no-one asked this unelected quango how it could be that such rare and timid species would choose to nest at such a busy and noisy locality?
Come on Surrey County Council, ask English Nature some difficult questions and show your mettle.
Finally, please can you cease referring to the extra and permanent, purpose-made supports which were installed under the bridge some years ago, as ‘Acrow Props’. Any builder, or even DIY practitioner, will tell you that Acrow Props (a trade name) are a different piece of kit altogether.
Peter Monk
Ash Vale
by email
First printed in:
Aldershot News and Mail
| 
