Bridge building

IN comparison to the inconvenience that was suffered 70 years ago when the Battle of Britain was being waged in the skies above Yorkshire, the hardship caused by the temporary closure of Whitby's swing bridge was modest indeed.

By The Newsroom

Published 30th Jul 2010, 21:16 BST

Updated 30th Jul 2010, 21:16 BST

Nevertheless, at the height of the holiday season and in a resort dependent upon tourism, the enforced 10-day closure was not a good advertisement for Whitby, or Yorkshire in general, despite the "can do" attitude of those who provided alternative means of crossing the River Esk.

It is also another reminder, if one was needed, about the fragile nature of the region's infrastructure – and why Scarborough Council, whose initial response was perfunctory at best, and others need to have far more robust contingency plans in place.

For, while residents, tourists and traders endured the bridge closure with characteristic good humour, they are unlikely to do so in future.

In short, the council needs to start building bridges in more ways

than one.