Farmer's fed up with his 18-mile field trip

Fed-up farmer Mike Williamson is having to let his fields lie fallow after the closure of a small country road bridge left him with 18-mile trip to get to his land.

He says he has no choice but to let his fields lie fallow for months because of lengthy delays in repairing Little Bolas bridge. Before it was shut, Mr Williamson simply had to cross the River Tern to get to fields near Child's Ercall, between Newport and Market Drayton.

But now he either has to go from his home in Peplow north to Hodnet before heading back south to High Ercall, or south to Waters Upton before heading back to High Ercall.

But he said the lengthy detour and the high cost of fuel meant it was simply too expensive for him to tend to his fields.

"The work (on the bridge) has got to be done, but the period of time it's taking is crazy and it's taxpayers' money," said Mr Williamson, whose family has been at Home Farm, Peplow, near Market Drayton, for generations.

The organic farmer grows vegetables, grass and cereals on 56 acres at Child's Ercall, and also uses the land to graze his livestock.

"But it's fallow at present," he said.

"The bridge needs dealing with. But it has needed dealing with for a long time."

Telford & Wrekin Council engineers blame problems getting hold of specialist equipment for the delay and say the bridge will not be fixed until February 20.

Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for environment, said: "We apologise for the road closure. However safety has always been our priority."

Helen Cork, environmental policy adviser with the National Farmers' Union, said: "Time is wasted taking alternative routes and this is simply time that cannot be spared.

Commuters would not stand for this type of delay and farmers shouldn't have to either.

"This is having an impact on farm businesses and it needs sorting out as quickly as possible, any further wait is unacceptable.We urge the authority to get on with the work to resolve the issue."