POOLE’S Twin Sails Bridge is “not yet ready” to be reopened – but the council says there is nothing to suggest it won't open next week.

The £37m bridge has been closed since May 17 after a regular inspection found faults and BCP Council had hoped it would be open in the week commencing August 12. 

But a notice sent out to mariners via Poole Harbour Commissioners said the bridge is “not yet ready to return to routine service” despite “significant progress made” between August 7 and 8. 

Cabinet member for the environment Andy Hadley said back in mid July that more work was needed on the faulty bridge that connects Poole Quay and Hamworthy. 

CLOSED: Twin Sails BridgeCLOSED: Twin Sails Bridge (Image: Shazz Hooper)

The notice said: “Since [May 17] repair efforts to reinstate routine lifting have been ongoing with Poole Bridge lifting on an amended timetable to reduce the impacts of a single bridge being in operation on road traffic. 

“During a number of short and well-advertised periods Poole Bridge lifts have also been suspended to enable completion of certain repair works that required the Twin Sails bridge to be kept in the lowered position for an extended period, effectively closing the Backwater Channel to vessels requiring bridge lifts.  

“Significant progress was made during the most recent of these periods (August 7 to 8) but the Twin Sails bridge is not yet ready to return to routine service. 

“The Backwater Channel is now reopened to all vessels and the amended timetable for Poole Bridge outlined below will continue until further notice.  

“Repair works are ongoing and the Twin Sails bridge will also be seen to be lowered at certain times to enable works (although it will be elevated during Poole Bridge openings).” 

However, since the notice, BCP Council said there is nothing to suggest the bridge won't be reopening.

A spokeswoman said: "Repairs to Poole’s Twin Sails bridge are progressing with work being undertaken all this week.  Staff are on site this afternoon continuing to work on the repair.

“Due to the nature of the works, we cannot give an exact date and time that the bridge will be functional until the repair is complete and tested.”

As soon as we have any further updates we will of course share them with you.

The Twin Sails Bridge has been somewhat of a disaster this summer for the council: it was first closed on May 17 for a regular inspection.

Then, two days later, Cllr Hadley said “additional investigation and remedial works” were needed to work out and solve a problem.  

He anticipated it would be reopened to traffic and pedestrians in “mid-June”.  

But then, in mid-June, it was expected to be reopen on July 14. And then earlier this month Cllr Hadley “the bridge will be back operating on the regular schedule from the week commencing 12 August”.