Will’s World: If you want a sensible solution, hire a farmer
© Lee Boswell I don’t particularly like this phrase – mainly because it makes me sound like one of those perma-furious types who spend their time writing letters to the Daily Mail or being interviewed for GB News – but I’m going to use it anyway, and the consequences be damned.
There’s a dearth of common sense around these days.
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About the author
How do I know this? Well, like many a great story, it starts with a bridge – the one in my local village of Bangor on Dee, to be precise.
The earliest record of a bridge there dates as far back as 1036, with further mentions in 1292.
Though it has late medieval origins, the current Grade I listed multi-arched sandstone structure dates to the 17th century, with a notable restoration by the famous architect and designer Inigo Jones in 1658.
Worth looking after then, wouldn’t you say, given everything it has seen and withstood over the centuries?
Like most other current residents, I’m very attached to it, having been driven across it every day of my childhood on the way to primary school.
The present Mrs Evans and I got married in the church next to it, and had photos taken with it in the background, as is the tradition.
Elephant in the room
The point I’m rather soppily making here is that it isn’t just stone and mortar, it’s a cherished part of our collective culture and heritage, as well as individual people’s lives.
Not to mention the fact that it brings in a lot of much-needed tourism money to the local economy.
Get ready. I’m getting to the dearth of common sense bit now.
After all the floods of the past few years, a huge amount of debris has built up and blocked part of the bridge’s arches, threatening to seriously damage it.
According to the local paper, there’s 600t there now – which, as its headline magnificently stated, is the equivalent of 100 African elephants.
This, right here, is why local journalism needs supporting at all costs, folks.
Anyway, I digress. The point is that with all the rubbish pressing against this critically important structure, surely a local farmer or contractor with a Hymac and a couple of dump trailers could be called to clear it.
It would only take a day or two, with little fuss or cost to the taxpayer, ensuring it was safe for future generations to appreciate and enjoy, right?
Wrong. Instead, the local MP, after “fielding concerns from several residents”, had to “launch an investigation” into just who was responsible for the land under the bridge.
A brilliant use of his important time, I think we’ll all agree.
Landmark ruling
Then, as is the way in this bureaucracy-addicted country of ours, a meeting was convened.
Cadw – the body responsible for looking after historic monuments and buildings in Wales – Wrexham County Borough Council, the clown show that is Natural Resources Wales, and members of the Community Council got together to discuss what could be done.
Apparently, all parties agreed to work together to address the problem as they (almost certainly) munched away on their taxpayer-funded pastries.
Removal is to be undertaken by Wrexham Council.
Marvellous. I look forward to it being done in about two years’ time, after all the safety appraisals, newt-impact surveys and waste disposal plans have been signed off.
I can see it now: one good man on a Hymac, 60 other jobsworths looking on with hard hats and clipboards. Cromwell and his lads would have cleared it faster and more efficiently back in 1658.
Where’s that post-Brexit bonfire of red tape we were all repeatedly promised?
Nigel? Boris? Anyone?