Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council in South Wales have constructed a series of mesh sky bridges so that dormice can cross the road without being run over on a 4.6m (15ft) stretch of road between Pontypridd and Talbot Green. Suspended on poles, the little critters can pass over without harm. It’s costing £190,000 as the final part of a £90million village bypass scheme.
In the ‘cute but vastly overpriced gadget of 2010’ competition, I’d like to say that this would probably win.
It’s clever, and it will save loads of (rodent) lives. But understandably residents of the town are more than a little miffed at the huge expense. And rightly so when you consider that you could probably do it for £100 with supplies from B&Q. And that would be a luxury version too. Still, it’s nice to see a place taking responsibility for helping to save the ever under threat British wildlife.
What do you think? Are dormice and other cuddly creatures worth the expense? Or would the money be better spent on fixing roads for people?
Source: Metro (dormouse image – Cheshire Wildlife Trust)
4 thoughts on “Dormouse bridge, a snip at only £190,000…”
I live near there!! In fact, I live in the village right next to that! and unfortunately I hate the fact that that has to stay up there forever!! It’s really eye-polluting!
I can imagine that if you didn’t know it was a dormouse bridge it would just look silly. Do you know if the dormice have actually been using it Kiran?! :)
Well apparently they use it in the night but in the day it’s just so ugly. They could at least disguise it by putting up signs ON the actual bridge so it is put to some use other than the endangered door mice!
Yeah make it functional in other ways too. I can’t imagine why it wasn’t made underground tbh