THE rapid degeneration of a "death trap" bridge, just metres from a skate park where children play, is worrying residents.
The footbridge at the end of Banson's Lane, Ongar, is used regularly to get into town by those who live in the nearby housing estate.
Boards which run along one side of the structure, which crosses Cripsey Brook, recently disappeared, leaving a two foot-wide gap along its length.
Fay Hewett, 42, of Epping Lane, said: "My children were playing there just the other day – it isn't right that a death trap bridge like that is allowed to go unrepaired.
"The bridge should be repaired quickly and the barriers they have put up, belatedly, haven't really made it safer."
Mrs Hewett, who owns Balloonatics in High Street, continued: "The bridge has a hole on one side and a gaping gap on the other.
"If a kid fell in it would be very dangerous.
"The whole bridge looks like it needs repairing, the railings are in a sorry state – it is just not good enough.
"It is right next to the skate park and is used by mums with prams on a daily basis – it will not be long before there is an accident.
"To think I was letting my children play there when I wasn't aware of the problem.
"They really should have done something much quicker."
The mum-of-three added: "It really isn't on, allowing the bridge to deteriorate in this way.
"My children, or someone else's, could easily get hurt – not to mention any elderly residents or people coming back late at night."
The bridge, which now has roadwork barriers perched around the edge of the gap, was initially left unprotected when the planks first disappeared on May 23.
Diana Roberts, an Ongar Town Councillor, lives just round the corner from the bridge on Millbank Avenue.
She said: "The council are aware of the problem and have reported it.
"It is a shame that the bridge has been damaged in this way.
"The planks have been missing for a couple of days but the bridge has been in a rough state for a while."
Resident Andrew Kaye, of Glebe Road, said: "I think it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured, or worse, as there is no protection whatsoever for the unwary, particularly if sight-impaired, and particularly in low light conditions.
"This bridge links a major estate to the High Street and is used by scores of pedestrians every day, including mums with prams and toddlers on bikes."
Aimi Middlehurst, Ongar Town Council clerk, said: "We reported it to Essex County Council and we were made aware of it two weeks ago."
An Essex Highways structures technician said: "Essex County Council is responsible for the public right of way over the bridge in question.
"It is inspected regularly and is monitored.
"At this time, and in accordance with our criteria, it is adequate for pedestrian use."
