On the front page of The Cornish Times 15.10.99, it was good to read the comments of the Mayor of Saltash and her efforts to get things moving, regarding the minor land-slip from the approach embankment of the Saltash road tunnel.
It was sad to read the Agency's spokesman comments regarding the cost and time it will take to clear it up. No rockets from County Hall and none of its leaders at the scene to discover why a minor incident is allowed to develop into a major disaster.
The alongside 1859 railway bridge and its adjoining works, is a reliable and living monument to the price and efficiency of engineering of, when Britain was Great.
The road bridge, the tunnel and its approach works a monument to the incompetence of Britain today.
Instead of a minor mishap being quickly and efficiently cleared, assuring all those who invest in Saltash and Cornwall that their investments are worthwhile and secure.
The protraction being envisaged, could give entrepreneurs second thoughts and stop the production of further jobs, if not losing some already in situ.
In the words of the late Field Marshal Lord Montgomery of Alamein, 'It can be done and will be done'.
Let us get back some pride in being efficient rather than good at 'Spin' and but inefficient at work.
Time means money, it could be proved to the Bridge authority by stopping all tolls during the time it takes to return to normality.
V LESTER.
Liskeard.