Walls And Bridges

A rare combination of us being healthy and the day being dry, sunny and (relatively) warm meant that we were able to enjoy a walk into town for the first time in several weeks. Naturally, a pit stop at Caffè Nero was called for and we also popped into M&S for a few bits and pieces.
Not having walked along the river for some time, I was intrigued to see what - if any - progress had been made on the flood defences. The actual flood was just over eight years ago but the work to build the defences seems to have dragged on for ages. Sometimes it seems that all we have to show for it is a new footbridge and a load of felled trees as well as near permanent traffic restrictions on Aynam Road.
To be fair though, the bits they have done around the church and Abbot Hall are starting to look less “new” as they weather so maybe it won’t be too bad after all.
But the bit in the picture looks like a major undertaking. They are going to build a taller wall (with glass panels) along this stretch of Waterside, but it would appear that the only way of doing this is to build a temporary platform in the river for them to work from, with access being by way of bridge from the main site on the opposite side of the river.
According to the blurb on the fencing, the wall should be finished by summer 2024 and the temporary platform removed by autumn 2024.
Based on past claims, I’m not holding my breath…