Abergavenny residents have called upon Monmouthshire County Council to put temporary road signs in place to warn of poor road conditions along Hereford Road.

Monmouthshire County Council recently announced that resurfacing of Hereford Road will begin on August 2, after many residents had complained about the deteriorating and dangerous conditions on the well-used route in Abergavenny.

However, with more than six weeks to go before resurfacing work commences, many local people are calling for temporary measures to be put in place to help motorists.

This includes local resident Christopher Titchener, who recently wrote a letter to Monmouthshire County Council’s Head of Highways Mark Hand.

In his letter Mr Titchener said: “Given the widespread concerns and knowledge, about the state and safety of Hereford Road is it not incumbent on Monmouthshire County Council, to cause warning signs of ‘uneven surfaces’ and ‘potholes, risking damage’, to be intermittently placed along the length of affected road, to warn motorists and cyclists of the risks and dangers when travelling on this road?

“Do you not have a legal duty of care to warn the public of the identified risks and dangers? I’m surprised that this hasn’t been implemented before.

“You and your officers must be in no doubt of the daily ‘changing road map’ of conditions on this road – that will remain the case until works commence.”

With road users reporting damage including chipped car windscreens, bicycles getting stuck in ruts and even hazards to pedestrians crossing the road, there has been an increasing number of campaigners urging local councillors to intervene on the matter.

Thankfully for residents, through the dogged persistence of Town and County Councillor Martyn Groucutt and Town Mayor Tudor Thomas the Council have now agreed to address the situation of the poor road conditions on Hereford Road.

Speaking to the Chronicle, Mayor Thomas said: “The issue of the poor surface on the Hereford Rd has gone on since March. On 16th March I complained to MCC Highways and a week or so after a senior Highways officer joined me to inspect Hereford Road and Lower Monk street.

“Since then I have had numerous complaints from the people of Abergavenny about the road, and have complained to the Head of Highways, Mr Mark Hand and the Cabinet Member for Highways and Resources Cllr Jane Pratt.

“I am especially concerned as this road is one of the main ways into Abergavenny and I am concerned the poor state of the Hereford Road is having a negative effect on the number of people travelling to Abergavenny to shop.”

The road was even recently voted the worst in Abergavenny on Facebook, with many on social media posting negative comments about their recent experiences travelling on the road.

Having been contacted by the newspaper directly for a response to concerns about Hereford Road, a spokesperson for Monmouthshire County Council said: “The council is aware of the concerns about the condition of Hereford Road and will be carrying out regular inspections and if required emergency repairs in order to keep the road in a safe condition until it is resurfaced during the school holidays in August.”