NEWDIGATE residents have found themselves caught in a four-month legal wrangle over damage to a village bridge which shows no sign of being resolved.
A vehicle damaged part of the narrow bridge in Cudworth Lane in November, causing brickwork to fall into the moat of nearby Cudworth Manor.
Kathy Orme, who lives in nearby Partridge Lane, said nothing was done at the crash site for several weeks until Surrey Highways installed several temporary barriers and closed the road one day in December.
The 53-year-old told the Advertiser: "For some of the locals this was a blessing as it stopped the road being used as a cut-through. However, others were enraged that they now had a four-mile detour to get round to the other side of the village.
"Since Christmas it would appear that those who want to use the cut-through have decided to discount the warning notices and to drive across the bridge by first moving the metal barriers and the cones."
Miss Orme said a number of the protective items had since been smashed by vehicles squeezing across the bridge.
She added: "Many people have been unnecessarily inconvenienced and now there is a trail of damaged plastic left littering the countryside."
Newdigate's parish clerk Peter Barclay confirmed a horse rider in the village had expressed concern to the parish council about the bridge's closure, but no-one else.
But the legal situation surrounding the issue was complicated, he added, as the bridge was on a private road owned by around 40 nearby householders and had public right of way for pedestrians and horses only.
Newdigate Parish Council chairman Bill Kear said he had been in contact with Surrey Highways over the problem and had no criticism over its actions as the bridge was now reopened to all but motorised traffic.
Joy Ridley, spokeswoman for Surrey County Council, said: "We have been unable to confirm which of the many local landowners who use the bridge, owns and is responsible for it. We are pursuing this but, in the meantime, in order to allow the public safe use of the bridleway without the need for barriers, we will carry out repairs in March."