THE old lifting bridge in Poole opened in 1927 and has been going up and down ever since. It’s had a few snags in its day and needs maintenance but, overall, it seems to behave reliably.

The new Twin Sails Bridge is having a more turbulent time. It opened late, suffered cracking and, since it’s been up and running, has had teething problems including the traffic barrier control valves that are now going to be replaced.

Poole Council is confident there will be “no significant impact on the normal operation of the bridge”. That’s good news (even though the word “significant” is a bit concerning).

The better news is that there’s a 12-month period when the contractor puts right any defects without the council taxpayers having to shell out.

Let’s hope for all of our sakes and particularly the council’s that when that year comes to an end, the Twin Sails is operating as efficiently as the 85-year-old lifting bridge next door.