WARD COUNCILLORS and residents in Poole remain unconvinced that maintenance works on the Twin Sails Bridge is to be completed this year.

BCP Council revealed that the bridge could be back in “full operational order” before Christmas if the latest phase of their essential repair works go ahead as planned.

However, Hamworthy ward councillor Julie Bagwell said that Hamworthy citizens remain doubtful, as this is not the first time they have been told the bridge will be back in working order.

“All this talk about them getting open as soon as possible is what we have been told for months now,” she said.

“The bridge needs sorting out as soon as possible. We as residents are totally fed up that no one seems to be able to get the bridge working.”

“It would be quite nice to have both of the bridges working instead of not knowing if any of them are operating.”

Whilst the bridge remains open for commuters, the Twin Sails will be closed for five days from Monday December 7, to allow a replacement pin and bearing to be installed.

The bridge will remain in its ‘down’ position to provide access for cyclists and pedestrians for the majority of the repairs.

A BCP Spokesman said that maintenance work was not able to take place during the second national lockdown “due to the already planned third party dredging works within the channel”.

Cllr Bagwell added: “They should have ordered the second pin when they ordered the first one.

“We have engineering companies in the UK who could have surely sorted it instead of waiting for it be shipped over from China.

“Using Covid-19 as an excuse is pathetic.”

Bill Constance, Chairman of Poole Quay Forum, has echoed the concerns expressed by Cllr Bagwell, saying that the repair work “has gone on for far too long”.

He added: “Hopefully this is going to be the final piece of the jigsaw and that they get it right this time

“My concerns are actually those expressed by residents, particularly on the Hamworthy side who are the ones suffering the most and are upset and distressed about the whole issue

“My personal view is that the bridge is a cracking design, and it is a good piece of engineering but the council’s main focus should be ‘let’s get it right’.”