Cleaning and preparation work was at a standstill throughout much of June and July, because of a contractual dispute between the main contractor and a sub-contractor.

Finally new sub-contractors were appointed and cleaning work, using a high pressure water jet, started again on July 16.

Hampshire County Council (HCC) admitted that completion of the painting and removal of the protective scaffolding is likely to be delayed.

It is the latest in a series of controversial disputes over the bridge.

In 2002, a group of Hayling Islanders campaigned against the installation of a new type of railings, claiming they would partially obscure the beautiful view over the harbour.

But highways chiefs insisted that the new railings were an essential safety requirement and the new steel parapets were installed in 2002-3.

Last year, it became increasingly obvious that paint was peeling off the new railings, much sooner than expected.

A specialist survey was carried out and concluded that workmanship was at fault, rather than the paint itself.

The original contractor - Concrete Repairs Ltd - agreed to carry out remedial repairs at its own expense, promising to restore the railings to "new" condition.

In May, scaffolding, netting and crash barriers were erected along the eastern side of the bridge, blocking the footpath and obscuring the view from that side.

Preparation work started – but soon ground to a halt.
Council spokeswoman Diana Leahy confirmed work had stopped because of a "contractual issue" between the contractors, with only "intermittent work" continuing from time to time.

She said: "Obviously, the delay will mean that work is unlikely to be completed in August.

"At the moment, we are unable to confirm a likely finish date until the contractors have had a chance to make a start on the job and asses the situation.

"Equally, the weather will have an impact on their progress. Costs will be borne by the contractor – there will be no additional costs that HCC are expected to meet."

Hayling and Langstone residents were dismayed by the ugly scaffolding on the bridge and the lengthy delays.

Councillor Andy Lenaghan (Hayling West) said that it was "stupid" to put up the scaffolding before full agreement had been reached.

He added: "I cannot see it being finished on time and we will be stuck with it through the main tourist season with an increased risk to pedestrians and cyclists using a single pavement.

"Recently my 13-year-old grand-daughter had a narrow escape, catching her handle bar on the railings which caused her to come off and fall in the road.

"Fortunately no traffic was coming, but it still turns my stomach to think what could have happened.

"Hampshire County Council do very little for cyclists on the Island, you only have to look at our surface on the leisure trail compared to the Havant side.

"It's about time we called everyone to task over it and a sustainable cycle route offered to Hayling residents and tourists alike.

"We need a cycle bridge for which we need support from our county councillor and the county council for this to happen."

Tony Higham, on behalf of Hayling Island Residents' Association, said: "The whole programme seems to be run in a way designed to raise adverse comment.

"Why cover the whole of one side of the bridge in the structure we see and at what cost? What is it for?

"To stop paint spraying on the cars? To protect the process from the wind? To stop a speck of paint contaminating millions of gallons of sea-water? To keep the painters warm? Let us at least get a reason for it all.

"As an engineer, I would have made a movable section to work along the bridge as the work progressed, if the protection is indeed needed.

"The original painting, though flawed, at least seemed to be carried out in a manner that was consistent with being efficient.

"This seems to be a classic case of a total lack of communication and of keeping local people informed.

"It is interesting to note that the original letter from HCC announcing the work, copied to HIRA by Ted Gale, suggested that our local parish council(s) should be kept informed or at least, in our case, perhaps the Community Board!"