IT is said that Rome wasn’t built in a day and I’ve realised recently why.

The guy in charge o’t’job (Ah think it were Romulus’ foreman, Augustus t’sluggish) was almost certainly the great great – repeat 100 times – grandad of the person in charge of getting the Mercury bridge at Richmond fixed.

I am one of the lucky zillions who have wasted a few minutes, sometimes much longer, admiring the attractions of the scenery, the back of the vehicle in front, the dead fly on the dashboard, etc. Why?

Waiting for the lights to let me pass the restriction caused by some chump knocking the parapet wall into the River Swale last year. Never mind wondering why it took half a year or so to even get into gear with the reconstruction.

I did, some time ago, enquire of the authorities when we might expect to see t’job finished. The answer came back “Easter” and by an astonishing coincidence – I claim no prize – by heck, they were on t’job in a flash.

This letter is to ask if the D&ST can put one of its best investigative reporters on the case to find out the name, and get a picture of, Augustus t’sluggish’s great great etc. grandson/daughter. It takes some doing to time the job by managing your resources so that you fail to finish by what looks like one, or at most two, days’ work so that all over Easter not only the local serfs but also visiting dignitaries from other parts of the empire can continue to be inconvenienced.

Far too many people in public service seem to forget or disregard the need to provide a competent and best value service for those who are picking up the costs.

Perhaps the D&ST can arrange a ceremony at which, after presentation with water wings and with due splendour and respect, the project engineer can be chucked off t’bridge while all those who have been avoidably delayed stand and cheer.

Name supplied, Gilling West