Hampshire County Council was inundated with phone calls from angry residents after it took the decision to close the bridge, linking Washford Close in Bordon to Windsor Walk in Lindford, as a result of the vandalism on Wednesday afternoon last week.
Since then council workers have been working hard to repair the bridge which, as The Herald went to press, was scheduled to reopen on Wednesday afternoon.
County council spokeswoman Sarette Martin said: ÒOfficers have pulled out all the stops to repair this bridge as it is an important local link.
ÒOur officers took more than 30 calls about the problems in one morning so we were well aware of the problems and made it a top priority.
ÒThe repair bill will come to more than £1,000.Ó
The vandals pulled off one of the bridgeÕs handrails causing damage to the structure of the bridge over the River Wey.
This resulted in the county councilÕs decision to close the bridge leaving some residents in Lindford stranded for a week.
The bridge is well used by Lindford residents and school children who attend Mill Chase Community School and both Weyford Infant and Junior Schools.
The closure meant that many had to walk along the busy Liphook Road to use the Headley Mill Bridge that links up with Mill Chase Road.
Others got into their cars and chose to drive to Bordon but a small number of residents, unable to walk long distances and without a car, have spent the week unable to leave their village
Many inundated The Herald with phone calls expressing their frustration and anger.
One Lindford resident, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said: ÒThis was done by yobbos and we need to make sure that they do not get away with this sort of behaviour.
ÒThe closure of this bridge has made me so angry as it is the only bridge from Lindford to Bordon and you either have to walk all of the way to the mill or get into your car to get into Bordon, which does nothing but put extra cars on the road.
ÒSome people have been climbing over the barricade and were still using the bridge despite the fact that it was dangerous.
ÒThere are also people who canÕt drive to walk to the mill and this has been very hard on them.
ÒI understand that the council had to close the bridge but we need to catch the vandals that have done this. That is very important.Ó
Residents also complained to Lindford Parish Council about the problems fearing that the repair work would take around a fortnight to complete.
At MondayÕs parish council meeting chairman Ian Skelton-Smith said: ÒIt is inconceivable why anybody would want to do this to the bridge.
ÒHampshire County Council has been besieged by calls and made it a top priority for repair because some work also needed to be done on the girders.
ÒIt is something that has caused an awful lot of problems for our residents.Ó
Anyone with any information about who called the vandalism is urged to call police officers at Whitehill Police Station on 0845 045 45 45 or to call the confidential crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.