LOCAL authorities tend to receive more brickbats than bouquets from local newspapers – and often quite rightly so.

So it is important that we offer praise when it is due. And Worcestershire County Council’s work on the Powick Bridge on the outskirts of the city deserves a pat on the back.

Regular readers will remember that the work – a combination of waterproofing and resurfacing – was due to take place last summer but was scuppered by the floods.

This year the weather, while not exactly perfect, did not play havoc with the £750,000 scheme.

The bridge closed at the start of the school summer holidays with work due to be completed on Sunday.

Indeed, Councillor Derek Prodger, the cabinet member for the environment, gave a personal assurance that traffic would be using the bridge again on August 31.

He was true to his word and the work was completed on time and to budget. The reopening of a major arterial route into the city in time for the start of the school term was vital.

While other routes in and out of Worcester have coped during the summer they would not have done so if the Powick Bridge had not opened on time. The additional school run traffic could well have brought the city to a halt.

And that’s why we think the council and its contractors should get a “well done” from Worcester’s motorists – assuming the new traffic lights erected as part of the work don’t cause chaos!