A LONG-awaited new footbridge at Newport railway station planned to be built by March 2017, has been delayed.

The footbridge, linking Devon Place and Queensway, would replace a graffitied and secluded subway where two sex attacks took place in 2011.

People who use the subway daily, including those based at businesses in The Estates Office in Gold Tops, have reacted to the delay with anger.

David Barnes of David Barnes Public Relations, who uses the tunnel at least twice a day, called it “a disgrace”.

“It smells, it’s often awash with puddles of liquid and thoroughly unpleasant,” he said.

“The city of Newport its residents and business people deserve a whole lot better than this appalling tunnel.”

Client relationship manager at financial firm Create Wealth Alison Marsden said she often felt “trapped” when using the subway.

“I find the tunnel really quite frightening especially when there are blokes sitting down inside with their dogs,” she said. “It’s really grim, it’s awful.

“I make sure that I’m wearing flat shoes when I go through just in case I need to run.”

Director of Foxwood Recruitment Victoria Peedle said it was “an awful advertisement and reflection on the city of Newport which we’re all working so hard to try and improve.”

Plans for a new footbridge had been on the cards for a number of years when in 2014 the Welsh Government's then-transport minister Edwina Hart announced a £4m investment to build the bridge alongside other work.

But, although it had previously been announced the bridge would be built before the end of the 2016/17 financial year, it has now been revealed the project has been delayed until an unconfirmed date.

The delay was revealed after leader of the city's Conservative group cllr Matthew Evans submitted a written question to cabinet member for regeneration and investment, cllr John Richards, asking for an update on the project.

Cllr Richards replied saying that a proposed design had been completed, but more work remained to be done before it could be built.

"As the ramp will be located on Network Rail land, the study was forwarded to them for comment and a subsequent meeting held, at which they confirmed that the proposal was acceptable in principle," he said.

"Network Rail will now formerly assess the proposal and respond.

"The timescale for this assessment is not known at this time, but officers will continue to liaise with Network Rail to ascertain their views as soon as possible."

Cllr Evans called the delay "a complete cop out".

"We've taken another two or three steps backwards on this," he said.

"This is an integral part of the regeneration of the city centre.

"Anyone who takes visitors to the city has to take them through that dreadful subway.

"It's not a good first impression."

A Network Rail spokeswoman said the scheme was a Newport City Council project and could not comment further.