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'Nightmare' road has not been resurfaced for '50 years'

Edward RoweGloucestershire
News imageBBC A close up photograph of a pothole. There's lots of loose stones and patchy tarmac. There's two double yellows in the background next to the pavement. Out of focus at the top of the photograph is cars and houses from the street.BBC
Residents claim the cul-de-sac has not been resurfaced in half a century

Residents of a cul-de-sac are calling for their road to be resurfaced, claiming it has not been done for 50 years.

Those living on Westdown Gardens in Cheltenham say older people have tripped on cracked pavements and children have fallen off bikes because of potholes.

Nicole Archer has lived on the street for 15 years and said she was concerned about how uneven it is, adding: "I do worry when the children are playing out or you see your 90-year-old neighbour walking down the road."

Councillor Mark Harris, Gloucestershire County Council's cabinet member for highways, said: "I've made a commitment to come down with an officer and we'll look at exactly what's going on."

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Joy Millar has lived on the street for 61 years and said she could not remember the last time it was resurfaced.

She often chooses to walk on the road because of the condition of the pavement.

"I have to really concentrate on walking down and be aware of all the pitfalls there." She said.

"It's a nightmare actually and it's never looked this bad ever."

News imagePicture of a street, cars are in the driveways of the homes and an older lady is walking on the road as opposed to the pavement. A car is also in front of her. She's wearing a white jacket and long dress. There's trees in the background of the image.
Joy Millar often chooses to walk on the road rather than the pavement

The council's highways team has patched up potholes in the past but residents want a full resurfacing of the road and pavement.

Residents have submitted a petition to the council and some like David Nelson have made a number of complaints.

"I mean it's crazy, it hasn't been touched since we moved in in 2012 and listening to the other neighbours, I think it's been nearly 50 years since the road's been touched at all," he said.

News imageThe photos shows the street which is considerably deteriorated. There's patches of black tarmac but most of it is grey. Next to the pavement the grey tarmac goes completely with stone and brick showing underneath. The pavement is also in a bad shape, patched up with tarmac in places with cracked slabs further down the street. Cars are on the road and the driveways of the homes.
Residents have submitted a petition calling for the road and pavement to be resurfaced

Council emails shown to the BBC by residents suggest Gloucestershire Highways has higher priority roads to resurface.

Westdown Gardens is a cul-de-sac with no through traffic so roads with deeper potholes and those used by more vehicles are considered higher priority.

Harris said: "Unfortunately because of so many years of under-investment, we've got lots of really quite desperate roads in need of repair.

"The huge challenge we've found is that it takes £52m just to keep Gloucestershire's Roads the way they are, and the way they are is not good enough.

"But the government gives us £36.5m and we're £15.5m in the red," he added.

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