I HAVE been requesting that one of the primary routes into Coleford to and from Gloucester, the aptly named Gloucester Road, be resurfaced, or at the very least, better maintained than it currently is.

Speaking to people who have lived along this route for a number of years, they confirm that this road, which is regularly used by heavy lorries has not been resurfaced in over two decades.

The given life expectancy of a road surface, I have been told is 20 years, so doing the maths, this road is now past its use by date.

I have regularly been in touch with officers at Gloucestershire Highways Department who assured me, that they would try to get this road included in the 2017/18 budget, but I have today read that this is not to be.

I understand that if there is any surplus in the budget at the end of the financial year, they may consider it.

We are con­stantly  being reminded of our need to build more housing in the area, so these roads are just going to get busier, and quite frankly, it appears that we cannot afford to maintain the roads that we already have, without adding more to the area.

– Cllr Martin Hill, District Councillor, Coleford East Ward.