End in sight for cut-off Rossendale villagers (From Lancashire Telegraph)

End in sight for cut-off Rossendale villagers

11:00am Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News By Chris Adams

RESIDENTS in a Rossendale village that was cut off when part of a road collapsed last month should be able to drive to, and from, their homes again by the end of this week.

People in Strongstry have been isolated for almost three weeks after bad weather created a huge hole in Stubbins Vale Road – the only route into the area.

Workers have battled through further downpours to try to restore order for the residents of around 50 houses.

County Coun Darryl Smith, who lives in nearby Edenfield, said highways staff hoped that the road would be fully functional again on Friday afternoon.

While repair work has been taking place, motorists have had to leave their cars on the other side of the River Irwell, in the nearby hamlet of Chatterton, across a weak private bridge made available by the landowner.

Coun Smith said the timescale was welcome news for the fed-up village population.

He said: “The beginnings of some concrete fillings were being laid down on Tuesday.

“Then they will be installing some ducting to secure the gas, water and electric connections. On Thursday we should see completion of the concrete back fill, and the foundations of the actual road surface will be put in place.

“Hopefully, on Friday, it will just be a case of smoothing out the road and removing the temporary bridge and ramps, and then everything will be back to normal.”

Strongstry has no shops, or amenities, and the 10ft wide hole meant that some villagers faced difficulties carrying shopping back from their cars, which had to be parked half-a-mile away.

Stubbins Vale Road has had pothole problems for more than 30 years. Earlier this year, residents received a boost after Lancashire County Council approved steps to purchase the road and bring it up to an adoptable standard.