Llanddewi Rhydderch residents are fuming about a road resurfacing scheme that was apparently abandoned halfway through REPORTS ANNABEL HUGHES.

Melanie Greenall (pictures) said a team of council workers arrived with lorries and JCBs six weeks ago and started tidying and cutting back the banks and verges along a stretch of road approximately one and a half miles long.

They then raised all the manhole covers and marked the road in preparation for resurfacing.

"We all got very excited because the road's a real mess, with horrendous potholes. The surface is patched regularly but tractors just rip the patches out again," said Melanie.

To the residents' astonishment, however, the council workforce returned last week and lowered all the manhole covers again.

"We couldn't believe it! When I rang the Highways Department I was told they didn't have the money to go ahead with the resurfacing work," said Melanie

"It was such a waste of taxpayers' money to pull out of the job halfway. Our council tax bill is £2,410 and it's the one bill we really struggle to pay. It must have cost nearly all of that.

"Some of the manhole covers have just been cemented back in and the rain is already washing the cement away."

Mrs Phil Smith, who is Melanie's mum and next door neighbour, said: "When we saw council workers measuring and marking the road outside we thought great, at last something's going to be done. They told us part of the stretch was going to be patched and part resurfaced.

"The main issue is the waste of public money. If you need to make repairs to your house you budget for it - you don't just stop halfway. You'd think the council would do the same!

"We'd rather they'd never started the job at all and waited until they could afford to do it properly."

Another village resident Liz Cox added: "We've been living with dangerous roads since the end of August. Several motorists have narrowly avoided accidents because of the raised manhole covers. I can't believe the council have spent all that money for nothing. Why start the job in the first place? It's ridiculous."

Robert Webb, Monmouthshire County Council communications manager said: "Following a series of exceptionally cold winters, our highways maintenance programme has been accelerated to make best use of the available funding for a far larger number of roads in need of repair.

"To do this, we have had to stretch the available funding as far as possible.

"Unfortunately, the funding available for this year would only allow us to prepare the road for further work.

"We'll complete the project when further finance is available in the new financial year," he added.