Ian Randolph, of Somerton writes:

It is now more than three weeks since flooding forced the closure of the Somerton low-level crossing. In that time many, many residents have been forced to endure increased travelling time and financial burdens in going about their daily lives.

One example of this is an elderly gentleman who lives just over the river and is unable to drive to get about. He has required items to be delivered to him by the roadhouse which has resulted in a trip to Appleby Lane and then to Attunga and then down Lower Somerton Road to enable us to get his goods to him.

It must also be noted at this point that school children are also being disadvantaged as they have to be up very early to get ready and then be taken on this long trip to get them to school by starting time of 9am.

On a personal level the Somerton roadhouse is suffering a marked loss of trade and this has been highlighted by the recent AgQuip at Gunnedah. On the first day we took $200.

I am sure there is a direct correlation between our loss of business and the closure of the crossing. We have many regular customers from the north side of the river who have simply stopped shopping with us and have cancelled papers, stopped buying diesel and petrol and stopped getting morning teas and lunches from us.

It is high time that Tamworth Regional Council realised that what we are enduring is a disgrace. A community should not have to be divided like this especially with young kids and farmers needing to get their crops in and generally people going about their daily lives.

I ask the council why did they not anticipate that there could be further floods and establish a higher temporary crossing or get the army to put in a Bailey Bridge until we could get a new permanent crossing in place?

This situation cannot be allowed to continue. With more rain falling in the area this could now see this crossing closed for another two or three weeks until the water level drops significantly to enable inspection of the damage done and being done as we speak.

In an emergency somebody could die while people in positions of authority sit on their hands and wait for someone else to make a decision on this crossing.

Someone needs to act now and get something done so people can cross this river until such time as the new bridge is built and opened.

I believe that farmers and businesses need to put in a claim to council for the loss of business caused by this disgraceful inaction by council. Why has none of this been anticipated?

Surely any fool can say that at some point in the future that rain would fall and another flood would cut the crossing. How many times are we at now that this crossing has been out of action?

If this situation is allowed to continue then the people of this area may wake up one morning and there will be no businesses left in Somerton at all.