A NEW effort to solve recurring surface cracks on York's landmark Millennium Bridge is under way.

But the project, which City of York Council hopes will end an 18-month problem, has been marred by a wrangle over who is to pay for the scheme.

A two-week project will resurface the complete deck of the £4.2 million bridge with a new material.

Since taking over the bridge from the York Millennium Bridge Trust, 18 months ago, the council has had to tackle recurring problems with cracking on the surfacing.

A new material was laid in a test area, in July, and appears to be resistant to cracking. Council engineers have been working closely with the designer, Whitby Bird and Partners, to find a solution.

But the council is now battling to reclaim the cost of the project from contractors Charles Spencer Ltd.

During the repairs, the bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists, but for safety reasons cyclists will have to dismount where the width of the bridge is restricted due to works. Project manager Mike Tavener said discussions were ongoing between the council and Charles Spencer Ltd to see who would be paying for the resurfacing work.

He said: "Ultimately, we would envisage that there would be no cost to the council from this project.

"There have been considerable discussions about this. In the meantime, we are going ahead with the resurfacing."

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, the council's executive member for transport, said: "I have been unhappy about the state of the bridge over the last 18 months and have been pressing for the defective work to be rectified.

"I am pleased that we now seem to have identified the problem and that work is commencing. I am optimistic that it will be successful."

No-one from C Spencer Ltd was available for comment as the Evening Press was published.

Updated: 14:36 Monday, September 30, 2002