“Leics council rotten to the core. As it was a Great Central bridge, why dont people now get behind the preserved Great Central Railway and their plans to extend back into Leics from Birstall?”

“I would like to personally extend a warm invitation to Nick Di Perna to attend 'Bridgestock' (a celebration of The Bowstring Bridge and the long hard-fought campaign to save it and big farewell party for a much-loved pub) at the Pump and Tap tomorrow. 7pm onwards.
I think it'll be a great opportunity for him to broaden his horizons in an intellectual sense and to actually meet some real people.
I look forward to meeting him enormously!”

“How sad... for the Leicester Mercury I mean, glad to see and hopefully hear the back of the "Bowstring Birdge" saga!!

What will the mecrcury fill its "news" and letters pages with now?

Perhaps someone should start a campaign to star a new campaign!

The Mercury could run a competition to see who can come up with the best reason to campaign!

Can anyone tell me what happened to the "eco town", its seems to have gone quiet?”

“ITs not been a two year campaign, but an amazing THIRTEEN YEARS OF OPPOSITION supported stead fastidly by the Leicester Mercury throughout, I still have the opinion column that kick started the campaign to save the bridge. Many thanks for your efforts. It has been a fantastic effort by every body that loves the bridge and the old West End.
Start preparing to oppose DMU's advance on Castle Gardens, The Castle and St Mary de Castro. Why not they've taken every thing else!”

“Nick, you are obviously an intelligent person, so why is it that every day when I read your posts, I just have an image of someone who is smug, arrogant and a loner? People who say that no one cares no doubt don't care (but still take the time to tell everyone they don't care?), and people who have campaigned are obviously fighting for something close to their hearts, but you seem so bitter about something? If you committed to a cause instead of commenting on every story I have read on this site and even youtube then you could be such an asset to whichever group you ally to. No doubt you will have some witty retort to this in a minute. I offer constructive criticism not abuse.”

“Nick, your memory is really failing you here, the campaign has been directed clearly at both the DMU and LCC, but over the last few weeks has been more focused on the LCC as they held the cards to potentially save the bridge, and halt work, whilst the EH listing decision was reviewed. From my involvement with the campaign, and knowing what was also going on behind the scenes, people of all ages, from completely different backgrounds and political viewpoints have all been getting stuck in to work together and do their thing. How can people from different backgrounds, working together to try and save a part of Leicester's heritage be labelled as nasty snobs? Maybe it takes one to know one?!!!!!!!!”

“By what I've seen of the key campaigners, I doubt if they would of acted any differently if they were in the council's position. So sure of their own methods, they expressed an unwillingness to listen and take on board the viewpoints of people who weren't like themselves. Even at this stage, they still don't want to be seen as challenging the university and prefer to put all the blame on the councillors.

From my experience, these liberal-types are only 'liberal' to their own kind. To everyone else ¿ they are nasty snobs. So desperate to maintain their ego-driven status, they will not dare approach anything which is seemingly "unacceptable".

How can you challenge the council and uni when you share all the same core values and mind-set?”

“I think you will find most people could not care less.

LM how about finding some real news?”

“The councillors have forced their officers to do their bidding despite the majority view saying otherwise. As a result, Ross (the Bridge) Willmott and Patrick (The Poly) Kitterick have tainted their future political ambitions with some very negative actions. I spoke to a group of visiting engineers from London who had come to Leicester especially to see the bridge. Just in time to see the workmen obey orders to cut off a chunk of the bridge. They were really angry at this simple act of spite.
Still in the fullness of time the councillors will realise what the implications of their actions. As going against the wishes of the people has politicised them in a way I haven't seen for many years.
This Saturday night at the Pump & Tap will be a reaffirmation of those feelings of not to let them get away with self interest actions ever again. For the last ten years, this city council has been bending over for any redeveloper like some male prostitute. It stops now.”

“@west end girl

I hoep you're right. It would be good for something good to come of this, however, i think their failure to even acknowledge the depth of feeling on the issue shows they've learnt little, and see all this as people getting in the way of their 'grand designs'.”