What we have been up to lately
It’s been a while since I posted a quick
update on our progress in driving the Radnor Bridge forward. There are several
reasons for this.
The main one is that we have both
been busy in our day-jobs and there simply hasn’t been very much to say lately.
Richard and I still have so many ideas for the bridge running around our heads,
but with the focus in Twickenham on the station and town centre, it has been
harder to drum up the necessary interest to promote the bridge. I guess the
chance of seeing it built in time for the Rugby World Cup in 2015 is rapidly
diminishing.
My energy for driving things
forward also took a knock when Richmond Council started to give me the
run-around. Challenging us to find out actual numbers of people who would want
to use the bridge and why – this would obviously require a proper survey to be
carried out, which we do not have a budget for. However, if you are reading
this and happy to do so, please do start the ball rolling by sharing your
comments/support below.
The final reason, which is perhaps not
that significant, is a short while ago my wife and I were out walking on the
Ham side and sadly disturbed several groups of men, engaged in some rather
unsavoury sexual acts in the woods. Naturally this was not a pleasant
experience for the two of us and therefore rather took “the wind out of my
sails” for a short while. I began to understand why some have expressed very
strong feelings against the bridge being built, but I am also reminded how the
bridge can play a significant role in improving the social and economic
standing of both sides of this particular bend in the river.
Richard and I are therefore still
determined to see the bridge is built.
And, so it would seem are many of you. Indeed lots of local people have verbally
expressed eagerness to see Radnor Bridge is built. With this in mind we are
both still in regular communication with local activation groups on both sides
of the river. And I am still speaking regularly with councillors on this
subject.
On a separate point
Recently I was walking in Marble Hill Park and saw some lovely examples of the natural fencing we have proposed for the ‘nature-sensitive’ Ham side of the bridge.
I have included the pictures here to liven up this blog. Once again, do let us know your thoughts.