WITH reference to my last letter published in the D & S Times headlined Bridge Delights – I am yet again pleased to report that the big blue building site Portaloo was removed safely which came as a great relief to us all!

However, during the following week my neighbour met up with the local game keeper and his shooting party in the woods on one’s left 300 yards up Brough Lane lane from the notorious bridge.

Their vehicles were parked through a gate and as the group walked out onto the lane, a mini Army convoy of a lead vehicle, a large green Army truck, a Transit minibus and a Land Rover approached.

The “Home Guard” were determined to protect their bridge. My friend informed the driver that it would be impossible to get over the bridge.

However the truck driver wound down his window and displayed a confrontational attitude – he would not believe that there was a width restriction.

He then ordered an advanced party to approach the bridge on foot and come back with a definitive answer.

Wayne informed me that while waiting for the return of the contingent he asked the driver where he was from. He replied: “Essex”.

Evidently Wayne proceeded to question the driver: “ No I mean during the last four hours where have you been?”

The driver replied that the convoy had departed from the army shooting ranges at Warcop, way up the A66 and were trying to find the shooting ranges at Bellerby. Wayne’s reply to this was: “Amongst this gathered throng behind me our grandparents and our own fathers marched the length and breadth of Germany in 1939 to 1945 and never got lost!”

Evidently the driver replied: “Don’t blame me mate it’s my sat-nav!”

Upon the return of the advanced team with the affirmative “It’s impossible” the vehicles were reversed into the muddy gateway and headed for Bellerby via Tunstall.

On Thursday November 15 another attempt to cross the bridge with a wide vehicle resulted in it dragging all the frost protection sheeting laid along the top of the bridge parapet, together with several sand bags weighing the covers, down.

Protective posts must be installed at the approaches to the bridge. We rate payers are continually paying the price for the reconstruction of the bridge.

Ken Walsh, Tunstall