I UNDERSTAND that Devon County Council's highways department is shortly intending to undertake road repairs to the bridge over the Tamar River at Newbridge Gunnislake — I trust that the department is also taking the opportunity to make the bridge safe for pedestrians

Earlier this year I narrowly avoided a serious accident when I was caught by the side-wind from a passing truck, which nearly swept me off the bridge. At the point the incident occurred, there is no pedestrian 'bolt hole' and the parapet is barely 20 inches high. It was only by pure luck that I managed to grab the wall and stop myself from falling into the river.

This bridge carries a high volume of heavy traffic and is used by children on their way to school. As it stands, the parapet offers no protection at all and, in places is so low it actually increases the risk of an accident. The River Tamar at Newbridge is deep and extremely fast flowing. Even if a person survived the fall it is unlikely that they would escape drowning.

I am concerned that by carrying out more resurfacing the road will be raised even higher and exacerbate the problem. In any event I would have thought that the bridge currently does not conform to any national safety regulations.

John Scoot

Torrington House

Newbridge

Gunnislake