"ONCE again the county council has failed in their obligation to ensure the safety of our residents here in Redditch". The words of Redditch Mayor Joe Baker.

The comment comes after a full council meeting on July 14, when Worcestershire County Council leader Simon Garaghty vowed to take action within three months over the notorious Musketts Way footbridge, which has previously seen confirmed suicides, suicide attempts and a number of worrying calls to police.

The October 14 deadline has now passed, but Cllr Baker, who is also a county councillor and has campaigned for cages to be put around the bridge in the past, said not enough had been done to prevent further deaths.

Urgent calls for robust safety measures on a bridge over the A448 Bromsgrove Highway were made earlier in the year after Paul Robinson, aged 53, of Ashton Close, plunged to his death after jumping from the bridge on Sunday, July 3.

Cllr Baker said: "My question to Mr Garaghty is: 'How much more blood is going to be spilled before he finally does something?'"

Previously, after receiving a letter from Redditch Borough Council leader Bill Hartnett, Cllr Geraghty admitted he shared Cllr Hartnett’s concerns and said he would set up a multi-agency group alongside the council and the police.

At the time, he added that he was "confident" this group would be able to report on options to make the bridge safer, within three months.

The county council confirmed they had held meetings with the group but refused to comment further.

Cllr Marcus Hart, cabinet member with responsibility for highways, said: "Public safety is our number one priority when it comes to all of our roads, highways, footpaths and bridges.

"We have a commitment to follow responsible reporting guidelines and for this reason will not comment further at this time.

"Further information will of course be released when the matter is next in the public domain through the council. West Mercia Police fully support this statement."