Road repairs through three villages planned for next year

ROAD repairs through Claverham, Cleeve and Yatton are now set to take place in 2008, according to the local authority's planning chief.

Resident Wendy Griggs, who lives at the top end of Claverham Road, gave a speech at a full council meeting on Tuesday and expressed concerns over the plans being put on hold.

She said: "It has come to light, after examination of the individual decisions made by Councillor Elfan Ap Rees that there have been significant cuts made to the highways repairs budget, programmed for this year.

"One of these cancelled projects is the resurfacing of Claverham Road, the rat run that avoids the Rhodyate Hill and the congestion at the Congresbury lights on the A370.

"The road is no more than a country lane but nevertheless it is used by HGVs and buses.

"In many places it is very narrow so that if the two vehicles passing each other are anything but cars, one has to drive along the pavement.

"The road is very badly worn and there is a mass of potholes. The pavements are in a dreadful state and there are now health and safety issues.

"The residents of Yatton and Claverham have been asking for years for the road to be resurfaced.

"Finally at the beginning of this year we were told the repairs were due in October."

Executive members for strategic planning, highways and economic development, Cllr Ap Rees, is assuring residents the work will be carried out next year.

He said: "The work is on the list to be done in 2008.

"It will mainly involve resurfacing work but if there are other small jobs to be done at the same time we can do them as well.