Sir, – Without a doubt, one of the loveliest walks in Dublin is along the banks of the Dodder, particularly from Firhouse to Ballsbridge. However, I scratch my head when I see the three monstrous bridges recently installed along the Bushy Park section.
These enormous steel installations are apparently footbridges, but they look like they could comfortably carry a few tanks, when the greatest load they will carry is a wheelchair or mobility scooter.
Each of these must have cost a great deal of money, whereas simple concrete or steel-arch footbridges, of which there are many attractive examples already along the Dodder, would have been a fraction of the cost. Does anybody in authority do a cost-benefit analysis on these vanity projects ?
Meanwhile the existing facilities along the river are mouldering away through neglect. The path in many locations is choked by brambles and nettles, to the extent that in places one can just squeeze through, and certainly not in shorts! Just west of Clonskeagh Road the path on the north bank has been closed for two weeks by a small fallen tree.
Where is the man (or woman) with the slash hook or chainsaw? Working on the council’s vanity projects? – Yours, etc,
KEVIN CLEARY,
Dublin 6W.