Freshford Mill bridge damaged in early September 2008 still a potential killer!

It is now january 2009. Although complaints have been made by our parish council about the damage to Freshford Mill bridge caused by a lorry trying to get to the A36 via the bridge and Rosemary lane that damage has still not been dealt with. Hazard tape was used to identify the loss of the bridge railings. I surmised that this hazard tape was an emergency measure to warn passers by of the danger. But there has been no attempt to restore the bridge railings to protect the public.  Furthermore this tape is now missing and there has been further damage to the railings supports, possibly caused by a reversing lorry that had realised a mistake had been made and had attempted a three point turn.

The photographs below are of the current state of the bridge. Apart from when the river Frome is in flood anyone falling off the bridge will most likely die as the river is rarely deep enough to cushion a fall. If the river is high then only a very powerful swimmer could survive falling in.

The missing railings also do not provide any protection for a vehicle which could also fall ten feet or more. I would not have thought that the occupants of any vehicle that went off the bridge into the river would also survive very long.

There is also the danger to anyone on horseback. This an area of the countryside where we have visitors, even in mid-Winter taking a short break and why not? Even at this time of year our countryside is beautiful. It is a shame that they are exposed to such a risk that could turn a pleasant country walk into a tragedy.

How long must we wait till this bridge is made safe? what acceptable explanation is there for not making this bridge safe within a few days? Let alone over three months?  Are the people who are responsible for public safety so ignorant and uncaring as to risk the lives of young children? what stranger would realise, even an adult that there is such a danger? I had to warn a couple with a pushchair and two youngsters who were about to cross over the bridge of the danger. By their reaction I realised that it was not obvious to them that there was such a danger.

What department of Bath and North East Somerset is responsible for this irresponsible lapse in duty of care? And perhaps more important who is being paid to do absolutely nothing?

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I don't understand why James Dyson wants to build a school of engineering in Bath. Bath University already has an excellent school of engineering. let's read an invitation from the University written to attract new students:

Welcome to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath

The University of Bath has an enviable history of excellence in Mechanical Engineering Education and Research. The University has been placed at the highest possible level for its quality by the Quality Assurance Agency  which has confirmed that broad confidence (the highest quality level) can be placed in the soundness of its programmes and the academic standards of its awards.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is graded as a double 5A* for its research, the highest grade possible. This, together with its state of the art laboratories and computing facilities, means that it is one of the top Mechanical Engineering Departments in the UK. Our excellent links with industry ensure that our teaching and undergraduate project activities are industrially relevant and our students can further enhance their experience by undertaking a placement in industry. All of these factors help ensure a high demand for our graduates.

We trust that any questions you have about the programmes will be answered in the following links and associated documents. Should you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to contact us, we are always willing to help you.

Professor Paul G Maropoulos, CEng FIMechE

(Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering ) Not only mechanical engineering

Bath University can obviously provide a first class education for anyone who wants to pursue a career in Engineering. One wonders what James Dyson has in mind for his school of engineering. Is he going to poach students from Bath University? Who is going to teach in his school? How does this aging man think that he can provide continuing inspiration for a new centre of excellence? And, he doesn't seem to realise that he is proposing to build his school of engineering in a flood plain, some engineer; any sensible designer would build on a hill. Or is building in the flood plain the cheap option?

There are also other benefits for studying for a degree in a University like Bath: the option to work with other faculties for one. Rather than educate would be engineers in isolation Bath University offers the option to combine engineering with, for example, business studies or medicine.  Or have I missed something? Is the Dyson school of Engineering going to interact with Bath University?

James Dyson doesn't even have a conventional education in engineering, moving from Furniture and Interior Design to Engineering at the Royal College of Art. Nothing wrong with that, but then why does he want to restrict students to engineering? He obviously has talent and the money to get the school going, but that is not enough to warrant supporting  his desire to open a school of engineering in Bath. It all seems rather personal.  And as for being concerned about British engineering design and its possible contribution to the British economy- he has moved production of his vacuum cleaners to the Far East.

Further Investigation

On further investigation, which I might be criticised for not carry out before, for which my excuse is I was not aware of the nature of the project as reported in the press, the Dyson school, is just that a school. A school that teaches just one subject. It will not be in competition with Bath University. Unfortunately, the project still does not make economic or educational sense. As a school it can only accommodate children from B&NES and if permitted the local area - as children will be living at home. It will also restrict students to those who live in B&NES as that is the local educational authority. And those children who live in Conservative Wiltshire are not welcome. Even though geographically they may live nearer than children who live in B&NES to Bath. Also a similar argument may be aimed at South Gloucestershire that is not that far away.

The trouble is that Universities can accommodate students and children of 18 year or over who may also live in digs, but obviously younger children are at risk. So one wonders how these children will be bussed to and from Dyson's school? And how much that will cost?  If the school were to be a regional centre, to which children can go to experience something that cannot be provided locally then fair enough. But this is not to be. Why should the government fund this school at the expense of underfunding schools not only in B&NES but also Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire? Because that is exactly what they will do. If they don't, then they will be accused of spending more money in this area than elsewhere. Or is there going to be extra funding?

I know that there is funding from Rolls Royce and other companies but are they going to fund similar experiments elsewhere? No of course not, they probably can't. But then if the idea is worthwhile we need regional centres (schools) and independent companies may need funding to support their contribution-which is essential.  Do they do this in other countries? And if so how do they do it?

Design and Technology Destroyed Engineering Education

There is something quite daft about trying to teach children about design when the traditional foundations for design education have been undermined. Woodwork, Metalwork and Technical drawing syllabuses have been replaced by Design and Technology that has less time, obviously than someone who opts for all three. Design and Technology does not provide sufficient time for the majority of children to gain physical skills and become acquainted with the basics of engineering which is necessary for intelligent design. Except of course for the more able.  One must bear in mind that a new aeroplane probably requires over a million parts (and almost as many drawings) and a new car costs over £60,000,000 to design!

Assuming that the school goes ahead the factors that at present are a cause for complaint and could be resolved are:

1. entrance to Dyson's school is not restricted to B&NES children.

2. schools in B&NES, Somerset,  Wiltshire and South Gloucester will not receive less funding

3. transport to the school will be provided free of charge to schools & parents, wherever they live

4. facilities for adults should similarly not be restricted due to their geographic location

5. Bath University or any other educational institution should not be disadvantaged in any way

The trouble with engineering design and the lack of skilled workers is partly due to the destruction of the traditional trade approach to teaching the subject in schools.  In order to get the subject more acceptable as an A level by universities the new subject Design and Technology was introduced. There would be more theory and consequently as mentioned above less time for practical work. School studies that involve physical activities have had less and less time as more and more subjects are introduced. 

 

 

 

 

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A flood watch is in operation for this area: Flood Watch South West

At 5:30pm the Staples Hill route into Freshford was flooded but passible. Fortunately, the tide at Avonmouth is low at this time of the month, being a mere 11m: Tide at Avonmouth

 

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The three photos below were taken on Saturday the 12th January 2008 after a couple of days of steady rain. Local rainfall amounts to 65mm for January so far.

This is Mill lane just beside Freshford Mill. The morning after the swollen river Frome deposited this tree trunk weighing possibly half a ton on the road.  Further down the lane the bridge is being cleared

But is still blocked. North of the mill the photo below shows the extent of the remaining flood.

At some time in the night the river Frome occupied the whole valley. Whilst at 11:00am the water had receded. The weather had also prompted the local authority to spread salt on the roads as there was a chance of ice.

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