ANGRY residents have hit out after being told they’re set to wait until 2022 for repairs to a crumbling footbridge.

Essex Highways closed the bridge, in Hythe Station Road, Colchester, last May following concerns over the structure’s integrity.

Four-way traffic lights have been installed in the area and residents say the works are causing significant disruption to their daily lives.

Repairs are not set to be completed until the financial year of 2022/23 due to funding pressures, meaning the measures could be in place for more than three years before repairs are finished.

Residents say no work has taken place in the past nine months.

Debbie Upson, who lives in Hythe Quay, Colchester, said: “I am fed up with the lack of work and especially with the pollution when cars, lorries and buses have to wait such a lengthy time right under my bedroom window.

“This is so ironic when the environmental department at the council is telling people to turn off their engines when stationary.”

Naomi Hare, who lives in Tarrett Drive, Colchester, added: “The footpath going towards Tesco on the right hand side is cut short with no notice and is a nightmare.

“The barriers are always getting knocked over.”

Essex county councillor Lee Scordis said the wait for repairs was “unacceptable”.

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He said: “The cost for the temporary traffic lights surely makes any future work counter-productive while Essex County Council’s agenda of cleaner and greener is put at odds with buses and cars having to wait at four-way traffic lights.”

He added: “This can’t end up like bridges on East Street and Cowdray Avenue which have taken years to repair.”

A spokesman for County Hall said engineers were designing a scheme to repair or replace the bridge.

“This work takes time as it has to pass several technical, strategic, design and financial tests and only then can the work be commissioned and start,” he added.

“We will look to have the bridge operational again as soon as we possibly can, ideally during financial year 2022-2023.

“Our contractor checks the bridge area lights and traffic management equipment at least weekly and will continue to replace any measures that have been moved or damaged.”