ABERGAVENNY residents have struck out at the festival of cycling planned for the town this weekend, saying that the lengthy road closures in place throughout the town will leave them like 'prisoners in their own homes'.

One resident told The Chronicle he and neighbours were 'incandescent with rage' at the lack of consideration being demonstrated towards local people.

During the annual event major roads are closed from 12pm to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday between 2pm and 6pm and residents affected say they feel like they are under house arrest.

"Last year metal barriers were put in front of our drives blocking us in completely. We even had spectators sitting on our wall drinking and throwing their rubbish into my garden," said one furious Hereford Road resident.

Some residents are now asking organisers if a compromise could be reached which would allow them vehicle access to their homes when there are no riders on the track.

Mardy resident Najel Lee said there is particular worry for older people in the area who may have trouble getting home care meals or returning home from church services.

"There are some people living near me who need to get to the hospital to visit relatives. People here are very unhappy. We have been told that residents can move their cars from their homes to park in nearby streets but so many live in the Mardy not everyone can do this.

"This would also mean that the residents of those areas would be inconvenienced as well," she added

"If there was a back lane or an alternative route set up for us it would be much easier and we wouldn't object to it but for a lot of residents there's only one way out. I'm speaking on behalf of the majority of residents here who are afraid to speak up for themselves."

Councillor Maureen Powell says she has received several complaints about the race and the number of road closures.

"People have complained to me that they can't get out. Even though they get notice they can't predict what's going to happen on the weekend. I can't see anything wrong with it personally, but I can get out if I need to. I don't want to be a kill joy but people are concerned."

A spokesman from the Festival of Cycling said, "We apologise to the people who have contacted the Abergavenny Chronicle about the road closures, particularly on the Hereford Road and the Mardy, and the slight disruption which will be caused in their area this weekend.

"However, we would hope that the Monmouthshire public are proud that our little town of Abergavenny will be staging not just one but three British Championships this weekend featuring five medallists of last year's Beijing Olympic Games, a Tour de France multi stage winner, the cream of the nation's domestic riders plus the best juniors of the future.

"Indeed, this weekend's National Championships are of such significance that they rank alongside the Ashes Test match in Cardiff next month and the Wales Open golf recently held in Newport in terms of top-end sporting prestige.

"Through various local media, magazines and websites, the road closures have been extensively publicised and widely available for everyone to see for months and, if necessary, plan around.

"The road closures and disruption have always been top of the priority list during our meetings with Gwent Police throughout the history of the Festival and will only affect certain parts of Abergavenny for a few hours over two days. The Abergavenny Festival of Cycling brings thousands of people into the area over the course of a week in June every year and, as such, also adds vast sums to the local economy.

"We once again apologise for the disruptions to certain areas and will try to help out where we can. However, if people can bear with us, they will be able to witness at first hand the greatest field, particularly in Sunday's men's event, that has ever been assembled in the history of the National Road Race Championships. After months of exhaustive planning, we are all set for the big events and hope everyone enjoys what promised to be one of the great sporting occasions in Wales this year."

Nigel Burgess, Monmouthshire County Council's Head of Highways and Infrastructure, said, "The event has been planned for a considerable period of time.

"Event organisers have fully collaborated with the Monmouthshire safety advisory group on which all the emergency services,Area Managers, and other  MCC officers sit, representing many departments.

"We have worked together to ensure that there is as little disruption as possible for residents. The event has been comprehensively assessed for safety to users and spectators and the impact the event will have on the highway network and other users. The police have been fully involved in the event and will take the lead in policing the traffic management.

" We understand the event organisers have notified residents and businesses with letters advising them of the event and its impact on pedestrian and vehicular movements."

Residents however deny that they have been sent letters, saying the only notification of the road closures they have seen have been the 'yellow signs' placed in the affected areas.