DISCUSSIONS aimed at reaching a compromise over a row which prevented the start of work to demolish and build a new road bridge at Finstall took place between Railtrack and the district council yesterday afternoon.

It followed a High Court hearing earlier in the day in London which granted Bromsgrove District Council a three-day extension of an injunction it obtained on Friday preventing the weak bridge from being demolished.

Widespread traffic chaos was caused on Monday when the busy road over the main line was blocked off for what should have been the start of the task. But, due to a blunder by Railtrack, work could not proceed as planned.

It was put on hold after the district council, late on Friday, obtained a High Court injunction preventing Railrack from demolishing the attractive stone bridge, pending a further order of the court yesterday.

The council claimed Railtrack had left making the necessary application to the last moment.

In the meantime, both the Bromsgrove and Victorian societies had objected to the new bridge design resulting in the authority declining to okay the plans, so forcing Railtrack to submit a full planning application.

The council demanded a promise from Railtrack that it would not touch the bridge until planning consent had been given, but Railrack refused, forcing the council to take legal action.

Council leader Cllr Nick Psirides (Con, Norton) called Railtrack's actions "arrogant."

He said: "All it has to do is amend the design to reflect its sensitive setting next to Finstall Church. Instead it has tried to bully its way forward."

A Railtrack spokesman said the council's comments had been taken on board and hopefully their differences would be resolved.

Late yesterday the council issued a brief statement saying the talks had been "most helpful."