Wait continues for Newbridge repair works to begin

The wait continues for residents and motorists hoping for work to repair a Wrexham road which has been closed for nearly two years.

At this month’s Wrexham Council Executive Board meeting, leader of the opposition, Ruabon Cllr Dana Davies (Lab) asked for updates on progress to repair the B5605 in Newbridge.

It has been closed since January 2021 when heavy downpours during Storm Christoph caused part of it to collapse down an embankment.

The road serves as a busy route for local people and also acts as a diversion from the A483 bypass.

This wait has led to a lengthy period of frustration for motorists, and residents living nearby, who have been forced to take lengthy diversions to get to work or take their children to school.

In May, the Welsh Government announced it would be providing £2.8m in funding to Wrexham Council to cover the cost of the repairs.

The authority confirmed that work was due to start this autumn, leading to Cllr Davies to ask for an update from lead member Rossett Cllr Hugh Jones (Con), lead member for the environment, during a discussion on the council’s capital programme.

Cllr Jones said experts were currently on site and the next step would be for a report to be produced on what work needs to be carried out.

“The progress on Newbridge has been determined by the release of funds from the Welsh Government”, he said.

“We currently have various technical experts on site.

“I have asked that a report be brought forward for all members of the council and indeed all members of the public because clearly they are concerned.

“Once the technical information is finalised and fed in we will have a report that will come to members and that will be shared with the public so they will be fully aware of the timescale.”

Cllr Davies pushed for a timeframe as to when they could expect the report could to be produced.

She added: “We’re managing a lot of expectation here aren’t we? And people just want to know when the work is going to get done.”

Cllr Jones added that the situation was a “moving feast” due to information being dependent on what is found on site.

He anticipated that it would be within the next six weeks but did not want to be ‘held’ to that timescale.

By Rory Sheehan – BBC Local Democracy Reporter