We have a couple of paper factories at Ponte a Serraglio. For the most part they go reasonably quietly about their business. I think there may be an occasional dump of waste into the river when nobody is watching, but the water seems clean.

What bothers me about one of them are the piles of recycled materials stacked up beside the river. They are plainly visible from the other side, and have been so in the 10 years I have been coming to Bagni di Lucca.

A few years ago a shed was built and I thought the piles were going to disappear in there…but no.

A hedge has been grown between the road and the storage area and the owner has a nice hedge in front of his house so that he doesn’t have to look at it.

He is clearly doing well as he is building an enormous extension to his house.

Perhaps he could spend a little on fixing the eyesore in his factory grounds.