Bridge repairs on busy road outside Northampton are not likely to begin before October

It has been more than three months since the Spratton Sands Bridge on the A5199 had to be cordoned off, because a vehicle collided with it.

However a lane closure still remains and so far no work has taken place to fix it.

A Northamptonshire County Council spokesman said the delay is because the Environment Agency has not yet given permission for work to begin.

He said: “We are keen to carry out the repairs to the bridge as quickly as possible but we need permission from the Environment Agency to install scaffolding over the watercourse and we are still awaiting the consent.

“As soon as we receive the necessary permission from the Environment Agency, we will schedule in the repair work, which is expected to take around four weeks to complete.”

The Environment Agency has been contacted for comment.

Kier WSP will carry out the repairs, which will see a nine-metre section of parapet rebuilt along with sections of the head wall.

A notice on Spratton Parish Council’s website says the works are scheduled in for “mid-October” and are expected to take 15 days.

They will require a section of Welford Road to be closed for the duration, with diversion routes in place.