Conservation group calls for state to take over Charles Bridge

A group protesting ongoing repairs to Prague’s famous Charles Bridge called on Tuesday for the national monument to be taken from Prague city council and handed over to the state. The call was made by Martin Kadrman, vice-president of the Association of Groups for the Protection and Development of Cultural Heritage. The association maintains that ongoing repair work to the bridge have damaged it with some historic stones lost in the process. It argues that a transfer of the bridge is called for since the city is not apparently up to the job. The already two year old repairs to the bridge have sparked criticism with inspectors from the Ministry of Culture saying that more blocks were removed than necessary. The city council said the call was an insult to Prague citizens. The current reconstruction work is due to last until the middle of the year.