A BUS link promised to new residents at a local housing estate when it was built may be on the horizon, nine years after some of them moved in.

Oakdale Estate in Lydney was assureed access to the town by bus would be provided, and a link road was eventually built, but the scheme wasn’t adopted or implemented by the local authority.

On February 20 the formal documentation was finally signed enabling public transport to operate between the bus station in Hams Road, travelling via the old JD Norman rear entrance to the Oakdale estate.

The new bus lane will be suitable for buses, bicycles, private hire vehicles and taxis. Restrictions for all other vehicles will be implemented, with CCTV cameras in use to catch drivers abusing the new scheme.

Lydney Town Councillor and Oakdale resident Claire Vaughan said: “It is seven years next month since I moved on to the Oakdale Estate. It quickly became apparent that safe and proper access, particularly for pedestrians was negligible, and that no bus link was in place.

“When I investigated further I discovered that the district council were culpable, failing to ensure that reasonable steps to correctly access the estate were assured from the very first occupation and then subsequently ignoring the issue and failing to enforce compliance.

“It seems that the council is more than happy to allow houses to be built, but, when it comes to basic needs, then it is everyone for themselves.

“Throughout this I have watched the frustration, determination and perseverance of county coucillor Alan Preest, who has spent a long time trying to unravel this problem.

“I had a simple message from him last Wednesday, which just read ‘sorted’ and that means that Oakdale will no more be isolated.”

Cllr Preest said: “Gloucestershire County Council should never have been put into this position in the first place.

“I sincerely hope that those responsible for the Forest of Dean District Council planning process have learnt lessons from this saga.

“Simply building homes without ensuring basic infrastructure requirements are in place has resulted in a lot of inconvenience and frustration for the residents of Oakdale over an inexcusably lengthy period of time.

“That is not clever, but at least the situation is now ‘sorted’ at last.”