THE delay in repairing Oxford’s iconic Folly Bridge provides no relief whatever to those of us who care about the bridge.

The outstandingly beautiful structure over the Thames carries thousands of people every day into and out of our city. It is vital that it is properly looked after.

But Oxfordshire County Council has failed to keep its structure properly repaired. The road surface is so uneven it is a real danger to the hundreds of cyclists who use Folly Bridge.

The work, and the discovery of the bats, should have started a long time ago.

I have been pressing the Tories who run the county council to repair Folly Bridge. But there is always some excuse why work cannot be done.

The prospect of heavy traffic destroying Folly Bridge altogether or cheap go-slow repairs being undertaken over many weeks is horrifying.

We need an assurance now that work will begin as soon as possible.

It should be undertaken quickly, over-night or at weekends, even if this is more expensive. It would be folly indeed to keep Folly Bridge poorly repaired or to block a key route into Oxford for weeks on end.

JOHN TANNER
Labour city and county councillor
Sunningwell Road, Oxford