Ravenglass residents 'left in the dark' over Network Rail repairs to footbridge
The bridge, which crosses the railway to provide pedestrians with access to either side of the village, was initially closed in April 2024 for repairs.
It was later removed entirely when engineers discovered that more extensive work was needed to make the crossing safe.
National Rail indicated the bridge would be reinstalled by May of this year but have now said that the repairs will be completed in the Autumn.
Chair of Muncaster Parish Council, John Chapman, said: "We were promised May this year. Obviously that's been and gone. So we're really in the dark here. We don't know what's happening."
The railway line runs through the centre of the village, meaning the bridge is an important route for pedestrians getting from one side to the other.
Currently, pedestrians are having to walk undernearth the train tracks and along a main road.
Local resident, Ingrid Robson, said: "We are an elderly population in the village and we have ambulances coming quite often and fire engines. It's not good at all. It's quite frightening at times."
Bobb Tebb, who lives locally and uses a walking stick to get around, said: "It now means that it takes me three times as long often to get across from one side to the other. Because I've only got one speed.
"Effectively, I'm tending to use the car just to get within this little village from one side of it to the other."
The bridge dates from 1849 and Network Rail says that its restoration is costing £500,000.
They say they've had to recalculate the design and order more steel for a safe reinstallation, because the repairs have added weight to the structure.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: 'We are sorry for the time it is taking to repair the Ravenglass station footbridge.
'Due to increased lead times in the steel supply chain we expect this repair work to take several months and we aim to reinstall the footbridge later in the Autumn.
'Keeping this much-loved heritage asset in safe working order is a complicated and unique process."
Local MP Michelle Scrogham said: "I'm not comfortable that as quickly as possible is good enough.
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