VILLAGERS have reacted angrily to the prospect of a footpath being closed for a possible six months while a canal bridge is repaired.

British Waterways (BW) closed the swing bridge over the Kennet and Avon Canal at Semington on Monday and it could remain closed for up to six months.

It says the closure is necessary because canal boaters have complained the bridge is too difficult to manoeuvre and it needs to be repaired.

But residents are angry about the timing and length of the closure and lack of consultation with local people, who use the footpath going over the bridge for walking and cycling.

Kenneth Clark, of Pound Close, collected 220 signatures on a petition against the closure.

He said: "It's the length of time that's our objection.

"People use the footpath for going to work, young people go along here on their bikes and other people to go to Trowbridge."

His wife, Sylvia, added: "The diversion sends you over a bridge further up the river but it's unsafe because there's no path or steps to come down off it and you could slip down the slope."

Cllr Peter Vooght, of Semington Parish Council, said: It's part of a nice circular walk that people use, but if the bridge closes they can't use it."

In a schedule sent to county councillor Ernie Clark, British Waterways revealed that after the bridge closed on Monday, the site would be inspected in July, a report would be drawn up in August, funding sought in September, the work would go out to tender in October and the repairs would finally take place in November.

Cllr Clark said: "The schedule says they're not even intending to start work until November, which seems crazy.

"The major problem is the length of time they want to close the footpath, particularly during the middle of summer.

"They must have been aware of the problem so why didn't they do it during winter?"

The residents met an engineer from British Waterways on site last Friday, along with MP Dr Andrew Murrison.

Will Burnish, asset and programme manager for BW, said the work could not take place in winter because the workers were repairing the canal locks at that time.

He said the work was essential and would take a maximum of six months but they hoped it would be over much sooner.

After the meeting Dr Murrison said: "It is important that British Waterways do the work quickly and for the bridge to return to its normal usage as soon as possible so as few people are inconvenienced for the shortest possible time."