RESIDENTS in a Wrexham village have been dropped a “bombshell” after news an existing road closure could be closed twice as long as originally planned.

Part of Gresford Road in Llay was closed back in April for a period of 16 weeks, to allow drainage works to take place as part of the development to build 362 new homes on land at Home Farm. The road was due to open last week, but local councillors now fear the closure could be extended until Christmas after developers and their contractor’s encountered problems with the geological make up of the land, which consists of mostly sand and gravel.

Llay Community Councillor Rob Walsh said: “We were expecting the works to overrun a few weeks but not to this degree.

“Myself and Bryan Apsley do not think this is acceptable. Whilst we accept the work has to be done, it would be fairer on residents to re-open the road and for the developers to reapply for a new 16 week road closure next year. One which would give residents plenty of notice, not this bombshell.”

Cllr Walsh said residents living on Gresford Road were quite rightfully outraged about the news and were left asking questions about why tests hadn’t been carried out on the land before work began on the housing scheme.

He added: “People on Gresford Road don’t want to be living somewhere that has really been up to the hilt with problems.

“The 16 weeks are up and in theory, the road should now be re-opened.”

Cllr Walsh said residents living in close proximity to the construction work have reported issues with vibrations in their properties, as contractors have had to use a different method to complete the work because of the loose ground. He has also called on the work to be stopped until the new year, to give residents a break from the hassle of living on top of a building site.

He said: “Abandoning the works could give the contractors more time to run tests on the ground, so when they do come back next year, they can do the works with minimal aggravation to those who live nearby.

“However, getting the road re-opened is going to prove difficult so I cannot make any promises. But we will do what we can to end this four month inconvenience and bring peace of mind to those who live closest to the works.”

Darren Williams, chief officer for environment and technical at Wrexham Council, said: “We understand that the developer has had some difficulties with ground conditions with respect to this work, and as a result they have contacted us in our capacity as street works co-ordinators to see if the ongoing works might be extended.”