Colourful display may wreck bridge
Robin Taylor’s obvious disappointment at the flora in the Jephson Gardens (Postbag last week) might be assuaged somewhat by a walk over the adjacent Victoria bridge where can be seen a most colourful display of buddleia davidii. It has to be said that these are not there courtesy of Messrs Glendale, they are obviously self-seeded and are growing in profusion in all parts of the bridge structure.
The damage wrought by buddleia to built structures is well known and unless someone addresses this problem as a matter of urgency, then many of the bridge balusters will soon fall into the river Leam.
The buddleias have been flourishing in the bridge stonework for many years now. I am amazed that nobody has noticed them or seen fit to arrange for their removal and thus avoid the huge expense that will surely follow if sections of the bridge end up in the river. - Alan Griffin, Leam Street Leamington