JUST like so many residents and visitors over the Easter break, regardless of the weather, walkers and cyclists have enjoyed the beautiful countryside and Stour River at Throop.

Throop’s former mill has been closed for the past 30-plus years.

A valuable asset is just sitting there closed, when for the past 20 years hundreds of letters, emails and reports have been sent highlighting many of the benefits in having a cafeteria or visitor centre showing much of the workings of the former mill, craft shop, etc.

With the support of the new council leader Cllr John Beesley, a letter to the owners Haygates seeking clarification as to their intentions for the building.

This just follows on from Councillor Anne Rey and my endless representations regarding the clear deterioration to the existing wooden structure of the only river crossing Weir bridge at Throop.

As all can see, Dorset County Council are very mindful of the high cost now being spent on maintenance, as can be seen on replacement to the deck boards and sections of handrail.

Yet, now the planned replacement is being put back two years to 2013/14. This is the only link across the Stour, unfortunately due to the loss of the lottery funds for the replacement bridleway crossing at Pig-shoot due to endless ongoing objections from Hurn parish, the funding was diverted elsewhere.

Those funds could have been used to replace the existing Weir Bridge.

CLLR RON WHITTAKER, Independent Throop & Muscliff Ward, Kinson, Bournemouth