“The Bowstring Bridge will live on!
Courtesy of a new painting by local artist Tim Fowler - which is proudly hung within the newly refurbished Pizza Express on King St!”

“Loss of the bridge, the symbolic gateway to the West End the railway and canal created when they were built, will be a devastating blow to community identity and cohesion. Remember a few years ago, when the Council planned to take away the roundabout on London Road at the Victoria Park Road junction? Stoneygate residents said it was important to the separate identity of their area. The Council agreed and left it in place. Well the bridge is the same for us West Enders.”

“Snooze...

The thing is though Sandie (POINTLESS Bowstring Bridge protestor), Westcotes Sandie, is that you appear to be deludied into thinking people actually want the bridge. The problem you have is that this really is old news now as the rusty old pidgeon loft is nearly on the floor and there's only a handfull of protesters who really think they can make a difference at this late stage...(why is that anyway).

I think you'll find that the 'usual 3 or 4' is more than '3 or 4' if you read old postings on this ongoing waste of paper...also, you'll notice that this 'much cared' for story is getting less and less paper space - probably due to the lack of interest and you can only flog a dead horse so much!

So after all of the vigilant fighting you can have a good long rest to get over your tiredness, devestation and emotional distress - surely this is a good thing for your health that you don't have to worry?

Give it a rest now, most of us are bored with it and, be honest, you must be too to a point...when are you actually going to realise that you've lost?”

“I have never said I hate the merc, I am just frustrated with this daily update of the demise of the bridge. You know it going, I know is going - do we really need a today they took another little bit of metal down?

In some respect I do admire the protesters, people standing up for what they believe in.

But on the other had, you talk about 3 or 4 people diverting attention from their own pointless lives - thats what this campaign sometimes has been. 3-4 people wasting their own pointless lives standing by a bridge after they started work on it, on the backing of a 4000+ apathetic facebook group - saying that is a majority and not really listening logically with anyone that disagrees, as they 'simply to not care'

This campaign would have had more impact if the paper hadn't bored so many people by ranting about it daily.”

“Well said Sandie! This deserves to be in the news. Shamefully the council is demolishing the lovely Bowstring Bridge without even realising what they are destroying. American bridge experts (sadly discovered too late to affect the listing appeal) recognise that the bridge is rare, precious and unique (see recent letters to the Mercury from Chris Dunne).

People much further afield than Leicester, including overseas, do care about the bridge and because the Mercury is doing a great job of keeping it in the news, interested parties in the UK and beyond are able to keep up with the story.

If you are not one of these interested parties, no-one is forcing you to read!”

“I have never said I hate the paper, but I am frustrated that the paper has started a daily routine of publishing about a bridge where there is know new development or good journalism. You will notice I didn't not post one of my 'give it a break' comments under yesterdays 'bridgestock' article as that was a differing angle and something decent to report.

For the majority I admire the protest and people standing up for what they believe - the reason why I stayed on my arse and did nothing - because we have different view point and I see it a a rusty old bridge. But why is there really a need to have a daily removal update? - you know it's going, I know it's going.

Surely this form of journalism makes the cause lose impact - hearing about it every day to some people (except yourselve- where life cannot seem to go on after the bridge) find it boring and repeatative - where as report less often with major aspect would have had more impact and perhaps would have creatred more of an atmosphere.

(Being slightly contractictory to my previous admiring point but...)This is where you campaign fell, you talk about 3 or 4 people diverting attention from their own existance - thats all this protest has been a facegroup with load of members, with only 3 or 4 that divert attention from their pointless lives to stand by it after it was too late.”

“C from West End, stop reading the paper you so obviously hate and go buy the Daily Mail. I think you'd like it.

Well done to The Mercury for not kowtowing to the powers that unfortunately be and continuing with this much cared about story.

I'm shocked to my core at this needless loss as are so many others who live close to the bridge as I do. I want it kept in the news as much as possible to keep the profile of this terrible act high.

C from Westend, I really don't care what your response to this is going to be. I've fought valiantly for this bridge along with many other amazing people and I've been left tired, emotional and devastated. But I'm also HUGELY PROUD that we all got off our butts and voiced our discontent the way we did!!

Really, to all the people (the usual 3 or 4 imagine) who will mock, scorn and attempt to divert attention from their own pointless existences, I REALLY DON'T CARE. :o)”

“Another day, another pointless story on the bridge. I at least though this one might have actually contained some news - but in fact nothing changes since the last time this was in the news!
Write something new and news-worthy Leicester Merc!!!”