THE bespoke parts needed to fix Poole's £37million Twin Sails Bridge have finally arrived, the Daily Echo understands.

However, work to mend the structure is unlikely to start until at least December, as the harbour is being dredged during November and the bridge needs to remain in the upright position to allow vessels to pass through while that takes place.

Officially, BCP Council has refused to comment, but a meeting involving key players in the Twin Sails Bridge saga is set to take place today – and it is likely a statement will be released this afternoon.

But an email seen by the Echo says the parts required have been delivered.

Meanwhile, sources at the council have also confirmed delivery has taken place, and that installation will not take place while dredging takes place.

BCP Council closed the troubled crossing in early August, after it had been running on one lifting ram following removal of the bearing and large pin earlier in the year.

Engineers pulled the plug amid concerns the limited operation was causing serious risk of longer term damage.

Initially, BCP Council said the bridge would reopen by autumn, but that was later revised to late autumn.

Now, it appears Poole Harbour's second crossing will not be operational until the winter.

Last week the Daily Echo reported how maintenance budgets for the troubled Twin Sails Bridge had been overspent by more than half a million pounds since it first opened in 2012.

Despite only setting aside just over £700,000 since its opening, the Borough of Poole spent almost £1.3million keeping it operational.

The freedom of information request, made by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, asked for details of all closures and money spent on maintaining the bridge's operation.

It listed 63 days when it was either partly or fully inaccessible – although more days were not listed.

It also did not include the latest closure which has hampered residents and businesses from both sides of the crossing who rely on it.

By the time the bridge is finally operational, it is likely to have notched up more than 100 days when it has not been fully available.

According to the Freedom of Information request, £1,273,622 was spent between the date of the bridge's opening and April this year.

Speaking earlier this month, Cllr Hadley said: "The new parts required to bring the bridge back into operation were ordered as soon as was possible and where necessary are now being manufactured.

“We would stress that some of the required parts are bespoke and therefore have a long lead time to be made.

“In the interim, the council has also taken steps to help reduce the impact of having only one bridge in operation and, as from September 16, Poole Bridge has been lifting on a reduced schedule with less lifts at peak travelling times during the morning."