POOLE council has denied rumours that the Twin Sails Bridge has been ‘twisted out of shape’ and is ‘beyond repair’.

Since the £37m crossing went out of operation a month ago, engineers have been desperately trying to find a solution to a ‘serious fault’ with the lifting mechanism.

Last week, the council said they had been unable to remove a half-tonne pin from the rod end assembly on the Hamworthy side of the bridge.

Specialist engineers from across the UK were drafted in, but the problem is yet to be fixed.

The pin needs to be removed to enable engineers to identify the parts that need replacing.

A “potential solution” is currently being worked on, according to head of growth and infrastructure Julian McLaughlin, but engineers still have no idea when the bridge will re-open.

Meanwhile, there has been speculation in the community that high winds buffeted the bridge while it was in the raised position, causing the structure to be twisted out of shape and beyond repair.

Yesterday, the Daily Echo put these claims to the council and they were flatly denied without further comment.

When asked if there was a timescale for repairing the bridge, a spokesperson said: “We are doing everything we can to reopen the bridge as soon as possible, but we do not have timescales at present.”

Mr McLaughlin said: “With support from specialist engineers, we have carried out further investigative works on the Twin Sails Bridge.

“A potential solution is currently being worked on, but this requires further work on site before we can be more certain of an outcome.

“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this is causing and are doing all we can to ensure the bridge is reopened for use as soon as possible.”

Since the bridge closed, residents and businesses in the local area have been reporting traffic issues.

Poole Quays Forum chairman Bill Constance said previously that people had now ‘resigned themselves’ to travel disruption as far as Poole bridges are concerned.

However, one Hamworthy resident told the Echo that since the council has re-phased the traffic lights at the Rigler Road junction, it has helped ease delays.