This website, the online home of your Bathwick Liberal Democrats, doesn’t often carry messages from the Conservative party, but today is an exception.

• 2011 Conservative council candidates: “Tony and Johnny are backing investment in local road safety, such as plans for a new zebra crossing at the bottom of Bathwick Hill”

• 2013 Conservative campaigner: “these plans have not been thought through”

During the consultation into the proposed zebra crossing at the bottom of Bathwick Hill, many asked where such an idea had come from. It appears that it was an election gimmick from Conservatives hoping to be elected in Bathwick. Having lost the election they forgot about the idea, but it was already lodged in BathNES Council’s list of potential schemes. Two years later the idea was drawn up and taken out to public consultation.

Dozens of local residents objected to the proposal, including your local Liberal Democrat councillors. Given this negative reception it is hardly surprising that the Conservatives have reversed their position. However, the process of designing the scheme and consulting the public will have been costly to the taxpayer.

It is yet to be seen whether proposing, then opposing, the works will be beneficial to the Conservatives’ electoral prospects, but it has certainly hurt public finances.