A PARISH council has unleashed a blistering attack on County Hall bosses after another delay to bridge work was announced.

Mundon Parish Council wrote to Essex County Council’s infrastructure boss over their concerns with the repairs to Mundon Wash Bridge.

The work was supposed to be completed in August but has suffered several setbacks – including a six-week delay caused by nesting birds.

The parish council has accused the county council of “poor management”.

The letter said: “The current project was originally presented to Mundon Parish Council in 2018, at which point the general concern was the incredibly long time-frame of six months.

“We were duly assured this was purely to allow for all contingencies and would in reality be far shorter.

“The project has since been extended twice so at best will have taken eight months.

“Over the course of this time, a multitude of highly experienced and qualified engineers, managers and contractors, even some on-site, have commented that this project could or should have been completed in about one month.

“In the initial weeks of the Mundon Road closure, all local road traffic also had to deal with the frankly idiotic planning for the concurrent closure of Fambridge Road.

“This was not helped by the appalling lack of clear signage, which Mundon Parish Council was instrumental in rectifying.

“Any incident on Fambridge Road now creates complete mayhem for all road users, which in seven months has become all too regular.

“Whilst many Mundon roadside residents have appreciated the massive reduction in through traffic, the local economy has suffered with logistical and financial consequences, with at least two businesses relying so heavily on passing trade they have seen a devastating reduction in turnover.

“The parish council was also assured that Blind Lane passing places would be upgraded before works started and maintained thereafter.

“Neither of these assurances were met, and now winter has set in, the passing places have become unusable by cars due to the depth of mud, and the general condition of the lane and its soft verges is deteriorating fast.”

In his reply to the parish council, County Hall infrastructure boss Kevin Bentley said: “The works were originally planned to start in spring and complete in the summer months.

“The vegetation around the working area was cleared in advance of the work to avoid nesting of any birds, however the work continued ahead of programme until a moorhen nested and laid five eggs during a weekend.

“Ecologist imposed a ban on working within five metres of the nest until the moorhen and the chicks fled the nest.

“This delay was out of our control and cost 29 working days, which is around six weeks.

“Due to this we have also lost time carrying out the works in dry months and further delays have since occurred due to heavy rain and flooding issues.”