Sutton Bridge crossing and MP's performance up for discussion
Here are this week's Spalding Guardian letters...
Replacing bridge is no more than a pipe dream
I was fascinated to read Andrew Brookes’ excellent leader in the Spalding Guardian of July 8 regarding the re-painting of that Lincolnshire icon, the Cross Keys Bridge.
The sad fact is, that if successive governments had had the good sense to abandon their scandalous waste of money project, HS2, then just a tiny fraction of its multi-billion pound cost might have been made available to upgrade the existing road and rail infrastructure of the
whole country, Cross Keys Bridge included.
Instead, in order to enable Midlanders to get to London 20 minutes more quickly than at present, the majority of the population will not benefit one iota from HS2’s ruinous cost.
Not everyone remembers that in 1989 or thereabouts the decision was taken in Whitehall to de-trunk the A17, the main road link between the North Midlands and East Anglia, removing it from the Strategic Roads Network.
As a result the responsibility for maintaining and improving this important highway falls upon the cash-strapped County Council which will never be able to afford the cost of the obvious replacement of the dear old bridge without a massive Government grant.
Such funding is much more easily obtained for Highways England-maintained roads.
Councillors are therefore quite right in supporting the continued maintenance of the existing bridge. Its replacement, whether a horizontal swing structure or more likely a Dutch-style
vertically-opened cantilever, is no more than a pipe dream.
William Webb
via email
They need to think outside the box
It has occurred to me that the proposed repairs to Cross Keys bridge at Sutton Bridge next year will cause unprecedented consequences.
According to local reports, the bridge will only be open to one-way traffic, with a manned traffic light system in place.
On Friday I counted 95 cars and 15 trucks going across the bridge to the west in Lincolnshire in the space of five minutes.
If all that traffic builds up, (an estimate of 2,800 feet, or a half mile of static vehicles) it would amount to a tailback of miles of static traffic in both directions.
Perhaps one of the experts at LCC could start thinking outside of the box?
During WWII, the British were very good at building bridges, and today we have an excellent Army, ready for any eventuality, and of course we have all the troops and equipment stored away ready for deployment, and already purchased by the tax payers.
Dad’s Army comes to mind when on exercise with a pontoon bridge and the brigadier on his horse insisting that the troops salute. They obey his order, dropping the ropes. He then drifts off down the river: Bloody Fool!
A pontoon bridge wouldn’t be feasible, but a temporary bailey bridge over the south side of the River Nene could give the Royal Engineers a good project.
It might mean cutting down a few trees and setting up some traffic control. There is good access from the east just before the bridge; sling a bailey bridge across to connect with the roundabout.
Lay a temporary metal roadway as used on grass airfields. Job done! Eastbound traffic would then have unhindered access to either lane over Cross Keys bridge.
There is also the issue of keeping Cross Keys bridge open for shipping to proceed to Wisbech Port.
As far as I can determine, maybe two or three vessels per month go to Wisbech. Sutton Bridge has almost no ships, but a Port Authority and Custom’s House, with three people who are doing nothing.
Unload any vessels heading for Wisbech at Sutton Bridge, and move whatever it is to Wisbech by road via the A17 and A1101.
Food for thought? A Google search “British Army pontoon bridges” have some good videos.
Any response would be welcome.
Paul Matten
Spalding
Our MP is a cut above all the rest
It seems fashionable amongst cynics to only see the worst in politics and of those in public service. It is worth remembering that answering the call to represent people is never easy... after all, you can’t please all the people all the time.
So, it is important that we recognise it when a public servant does fulfil their duties with diligence and persistence, and we are lucky to be represented by one of the best in Sir John Hayes. Who not only lives in the heart of his constituency and so is accessible and well known, but also does far more in Parliament than most MPs.
In fact, we are fortunate in South Holland and the Deepings to have an MP who is a cut above the rest. During the pandemic, many MPs have seemingly taken it as a chance to lighten their workload, to avoid the particular duties of a Parliamentarian to physically represent their constituents in the House of Commons.
Sir John Hayes hasn’t taken that path. Anyone who has paid attention will see that he has consistently fought for our interests in Parliament in person, tabling hundreds of questions and regularly making speeches on the issues which matter to people in our area, from law and order to attacking animal cruelty to taking on those running down Britain’s values, and promoting the interests of our veterans.
He has done a fine job fulfilling his duties in Parliament and here during these confusing and difficult times – it marks him out as not just a politician, but a parliamentarian.
Michael Foster
via email
THOUGHT FOR THE WEK: God has never missed a penalty
In history there were usually three things that were the focus of (and dominated the thoughts of) the average person – disease, death and where the next meal was coming from.
For a time recently for many people the Covid-19 pandemic with its terrible death toll, legion of sufferers and huge economic hardship brought those three things sharply into focus once again.
But there will be other things that may become our main focus...
So, what is currently dominating your thoughts? As I write this, for a lot of people it is the Euros Football (and the fall out of ultimately a disappointing final) – whether you love the blanket coverage or are desperate to escape it.
For others it has been the Wimbledon tennis (as above, love it or hate it!). This week it will be the Open Golf (ditto) and after that the Olympics from Japan (ditto ditto). You can watch the evening news and wonder if the pandemic is still going on.
But what should our focus be on? The pandemic? Yes, in so much as we must take precautions for our own and other benefit. Your sport and hobby of choice? Absolutely. We all need that release from the day to day – it gives us balance and a good, healthy outlet – as long as there is not too much beer or prosecco involved!
But for many more spiritual matters have come more into focus.
Whether it is prayers for the sick, dying or a favourite football team or the easy access of online church services, surveys show that even among the under 30s, who are supposed to have abandoned the church, there is still a hunger for God. As churches re-open their doors and services get back to normal will their ‘online’ faith translate into being physically present? And does that even matter?
Although our focus will shift like the sands and life always seems to find a way of coming between us and God, we can at least be re-assured that His focus always has been and always will be on us.
And he has never missed a penalty in His life.
Miles Green
Harvest Church, Spalding
