SO, after months of delay Evesham finally has a cheap looking bridge, with no aesthetic appeal and a derisory amount of compensation for these delays.

John Smith, County Councillor for Roads and Transport, who did and said little during this saga of incompetence arising from lack of management ability, lack of experience in project management and contract preparation, has decided that traders should not be compensated and the money should go into "Community funds" (AKA "the trough").

Mr Smith, who claims maximum allowances and expenses for his role could only manage to say "I'm disappointed" (on several occasions) and finally, anticipating a meeting with the contractors "I'm going to tell them I want it finished as soon as possible" - no comment needed!

He then, at our expense, took out full page advertisements to thank us for putting up with this shambles!

Over many years he should have been overseeing the payers' interests by ensuring that capable and experienced people existed within the overstaffed council for such projects.

Before resigning himself, he should ensure that those that failed to produce a bridge in keeping with surroundings (and public need), who failed to draw up and enforce a set schedule of work to a legally binding contract are removed.

Before the east county council election he sent, at public expense, three pieces of self-promoting literature to every voter - none was received from any other source.

Mr Smith won by just a handful of votes - which should be a big enough "hint" if one were needed.

PA BRANT

Evesham

PS. There is still a demand for a public enquiry which appears to be being ignored by Councillors.