A date has been set for a footbridge to reopen, almost 18 months after it was closed.

The bridge crosses the North Circular Road at Bowes Road, in Bounds Green, and will be reopened in March 2016 after it closed in April 2014 after an inspection by Transport for London.

Concerns had been raised by Assembly Member for Enfield Joanne McCartney who wrote a letter to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

AM McCartney said the confirmation of the reopening had been “a long time coming” after she raised fears over safety of schoolchildren looking to cross the North Circular Road without the bridge.

The bridge was opened in 2012 but a structural failure of pin joints on the stairs have required them to be closed to the public, including pupils at Broomfield secondary and Bowes primary schools.

Ms McCartney said: “Whilst it’s been a long time coming, I’m happy that local residents finally have a new proposed date for the reopening of the stairs. With the footbridge allowing residents to avoid the busy North Circular Road, the closure of the stairs has understandably caused a lot of concern in the local community.

“It’s frustrating that local people have had to wait so long for these repairs to be carried out. It’s equally frustrating that TfL’s communication with residents on this matter has been so poor.

“I appreciate that this has been a complex issue but TfL must ensure the local community are fully informed of any restrictions in the future.

“It’s now down to TfL to ensure the repairs are carried out successfully so that we can avoid this inconvenience again.”