A LEGAL agreement drawn up in 1903 could lead to a further postponement of the replacement of the rusting Avon Causeway bridge.

The agreement made between landowner Elizabeth Hamlyn Fane of Avon and the then district council stated that she or her successors "may have the right to reject a design which we think unsightly".

Miss Hamlyn Fane was the great aunt of Lord Manners of Avon Tyrrell, whose son the Hon Willie Manners now runs the estate.

He said: "I'm in discussion with Dorset County Council about that and we're hoping to reach and amicable resolution."

He would not be drawn on whether it would lead to a lengthy postponement but said: "I'm hoping that this will be an opportunity to address the very serious safety issues at the junction of the Avon Causeway and the B3347."

The bridge replacement should have been carried out last summer, but was postponed because of the weight of opposition.

Now plans have been re-drawn for the road to be closed for 18 weeks from Tuesday July 25, which coincides with sewer replacement work in nearby Sopley.

Christchurch mayor and Dorset county councillor David Fox, and Sopley Parish Council chairman councillor Phil Emmel, both said it was a chance for the county council to reconsider its plans.

Cllr Fox said: "It's obviously in the county council's hands but we have suggested that it would be a sensible thing to do to hold it for another year because they have admitted there is no imminent danger as far as the bridge is concerned.

"I personally think it needs looking at again because there appears to be so many things wrong with the present proposals, not least that they want to close it for an accelerated period of 18 weeks to do the work.

"And that is going to cause major problems with the eight or 10-mile detour and for at least a month of that period there will be works going on at Sopley, which will be double the trouble."

With about 9,000 vehicles using the causeway every day, he predicted "chaos" when traffic redirected along the official diversion route through Christchurch.

"But that's gone unnoticed as far as the county council is concerned," he said.

Cllr Emmel had advocated a holistic approach to the bridge replacement 18 months ago.

He said there had been far too many accidents at the junction with the B3347 and complained the county council had failed to listen to the opinions of local councillors.

A county council spokesman said: "We are currently in discussions with the landowner over the project to replace the Avon Causeway bridge. We hope to resolve any outstanding issues as quickly as possible."