Bridge protester says sorry

7:10am Thursday 24th July 2008

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THE man who brought Worcester city centre to a standstill as he clung on to the main bridge for over an hour has apologised.

Adam Talbot, whose protest against the state builders left his house in led to a tense stand-off with the emergency services and caused traffic chaos, said: “I cannot apologise enough to all the fire brigade and the police and every single person who tried driving over the bridge.

“My intention was never to cause that much disruption, I did not want to go to these measures.” His protest followed a three-month battle over upgrades to his house in Coventry Avenue, St John’s.

On Tuesday evening he came home from work to find his partner in tears because builders had left their home in a mess and his 11-month-old daughter unable to be fed because her bottles and milk had been contaminated by brick dust He said it was the lowest moment of his life “I will put my family first, this is my home, you do not walk into it and treat it with a total lack of disregard,” he said.

“Everything has gone from around me, this is the lowest I have ever been in my life.

“I really do wish it did not have to come to this.”

Mr Talbot added he had no intention to jump and end his life.

The 38-year-old father arrived at Worcester Bridge shortly after 7pm, tied a hose around the railings, climbed over the edge and stayed there until 8.30pm.

Police closed the road over the river Severn, forcing motorists to take long diversions over the city.

Fourteen police officers, three fire crews and two fire boats, and two rapid response vehicles were at the scene for the duration of the incident, which ended after a police negotiator persuaded him back over.

Mr Talbot was arrested for wasting police time and emergency services resources and was later released on police bail.

A police spokesman said: “The arrest followed an incident in which it was considered necessary to close the road to protect both the man, who was later arrested, and emergency services personnel involved.”

The incident was sparked by a long-running saga with Worcester Community Housing (WCH) and Connaught, who have been carrying out a compulsory upgrade on the house.

WCH and Connaught released a joint statement, stating they are aware of the disruption work can cause and said before workmen left they wiped down surfaces and bagged up the rubbish.

Jean Dalziel, WCH customer services director, said: “It is not easy having building work done.

“It is often noisy, disruptive and very messy.

“But as we discussed with Mr Talbot last week we aim to do all we can to minimise the impact it has.

“Anyone who has had work done on their home will know it is impossible to remove all dust. Our operatives did what they could to clear any traces of their work and under the circumstances did an adequate job.

“Unfortunately Mr Talbot did not feel it was acceptable and as a result took this extreme and regrettable action rather than speak to us direct.”

Mr Talbot, who is a steward at Worcestershire County Cricket club, will not have any action taken against him by the club.

Mark Newton, club chief executive, said: “He is very valued and he clearly has some issues he needs to resolve.

“We would not condone anybody threatening to jump off the bridge.”