As traffic chaos continues to infuriate residents and commuters, a utility company has denied council claims that it has stalled works.

The bridge in Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill, should have been repaired in January after six weeks.

However, a series of ‘planning issues’ have lead to the works being delayed by almost a year and are now scheduled to be completed in December.

Adrian Daplyn, principle engineer for Essex Highways, wrote a letter to a resident, seen by the Guardian, suggesting that negotiations with Virgin Media and BT, along with vandalism have lead to the delay.

A spokeswoman for Virgin Media denies the claim, saying that the company was not even contacted until February, or paid until August.

Ashley Scott said, "We're working closely with the local council to ensure there is minimal disruption to our customers and residents in the Buckhurst Hill area.

“Once we received the request from the council in February 2013 for the movement of our cables we responded quickly, however we did not receive payment for the work to begin until August 2013, these are now currently underway."

Jon Chinaloy of Westbury Lane has to battle the traffic caused by repairs every week.

He said: “Initially when the bridge was flagged up for repair I assumed wrongly that it would be a matter of a couple of months only to get the resources in place and get the repairs done.

“I think we are all quite tolerant.

“How wrong we all were and here we are with no real prospect of anything concrete happening until at least after the winter months with the long dark nights and the short days set to hinder any start up works.”

George Bramley Nursery Road, Loughton, told the Guardian that workers are ‘never seen’ on the bridge and that the traffic caused is ‘ridiculous’.