The stump hasn't been retreated yet but I have a tin of the stuff we use on the tree sculptures in Memorial Park ready for a suitable weather window.
Most of the money spent on this is from the HLF grant of £427,700 we were awarded to restore the bridge and wasn't available to spend on something else instead. I did put an explanation in the Diary:
A design for the improvements was agreed way back in September 2009 but allocating the funds to implement the works has been a problem because it was never in the original budget for the project. This is because the opportunity for a viewing platform only arose following the unfortunate demise of the large beech tree near to the bridge and our decision to mount the plaque on it.
The total cost of the improvement works is £16,391 and it has largely being funded by the reallocation of money in the original budget for the proposed short drama film by Fusion Films. This ran into difficulties with escalating costs and it was eventually agreed with the HLF to cancel it and divert the funds of £12,491 to the Viewing Platform. The balance is made up from the 2008 Unilever Dragonfly Award of £2,500 given to Peter and me by the Mersey Basin Trust, £250 was contributed by Marple Civic Society and the £1,143 shortfall was covered by Stockport Council.
