ROADS chiefs have announced that repair work on a Barrhead bridge will not be complete until the end of April – eight months after it began.

Improvements to the Glen Street bridge first started last summer and were supposed to be completed in August.

Despite the bridge reopening ahead of schedule, residents have complained about the “dangerous” and ugly temporary fencing which has blighted the bridge ever since.

With the Carlibar footbridge currently out of action, the Glen Street bridge is the only option for parents walking their children to Carlibar Primary.

Now a Barrhead councillor is urging the local authority to speed up the completion of repairs.

Councillor Paul Aitken, who represents Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor as an Independent, said: “I understand that it has been left in this dangerous condition since building work finished in August 2017.

“I think the photographs speak volumes. The fencing looks very temporary and far from secure.

“It is both a danger to pedestrians and an absolute eyesore. My feeling is that these works should have been completed months ago.”

East Renfrewshire Council has said work to complete the bridge is set to start after April 8.

A spokesman added that the state of the fencing is due in part to both inclement weather and ongoing vandalism, with barriers being replaced as many as five times since August.

He said: “A significant investment has been put into these improvement works and the enhanced bridge will benefit the people of Barrhead for years to come.

“Following the resurfacing of the road and walkways of Glen Street Bridge, some additional work is required before Scottish Power carry out other essential maintenance.

“Once this is finalised, we will then install permanent fencing and undertake the required landscaping – meaning the bridge will be complete by the end of April.”