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I AM thinking of writing a play called Waiting for Bridgeot. In it, nothing would happen. But there would be a lot of talking and dreaming... and waiting.

It would be a black comedy in which the characters involved would anticipate the arrival of Bridgeot.

But would Bridgeot ever materialise?

Those well-read among you might think this idea bears a faint resemblance to Samuel Beckett's masterpiece Waiting for Godot. But there would be a difference.

Bridgeot would not be an unseen character but (wait for it) a bridge in Poole. That has been talked about for years and years. But never gets built.

Four years ago fears were voiced that the Twin Sails bridge could become Poole's Spinnaker Tower. If only! Portsmouth's landmark tower may have opened years late but at least it eventually happened. And, today, Portsmouth reaps the benefits.

Poole, too, stands to gain hugely from the opening of the Twin Sails bridge, we're told. Back in 2004 it was estimated that a billion pounds of investment could flood into the town once it was constructed.

But today, once again, there are question marks over the bridge's funding and the council is going, like a municipal Oliver Twist, to ask for more. The government has already pledged a conditional £14 million but more than twice that is needed. And it is hard to be over-optimistic while the credit crunch is crunching.

The town needs the bridge but all we can do, like Estragon and Vladimir in Beckett's play, is carry on waiting in idle hope.

And who knows? Waiting for Bridgeot could one day have a happy ending.

But when? How long do we have to wait?

There have already been so many spanners in the works.

And what Poole needs is another spanner that works.

7:06pm Wednesday 3rd September 2008

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