HEREFORDSHIRE Council has confirmed a longer stretch of Ledbury's high street will now be resurfaced.

As we reported last week, the council stated only a stretch of the street called the Homend from by the Market House to Bank Crescent would be resurfaced this June, leading to public outcry.

This week the council said the Homend will be resurfaced up to Orchard Lane, which is the turn for Tesco.

Ledbury county councillor, Liz Harvey said that contrary to Herefordshire’s initial statement, it was always her understanding that the full 500m stretch from Market House to Orchard Lane would be done.

The new statement from Herefordshire Council states: "Herefordshire Council, in partnership with Balfour Beatty Living Places, regularly assess the quality of Herefordshire’s road surfaces to ensure all works are appropriately prioritised.

"In addition to the previously stated works taking place on part of The Homend and a section of Bye Street, we will also resurface The Homend from Bank Crescent to Orchard Lane in advance of Ledbury’s 400th anniversary celebrations of the iconic Market House. Works are planned to start on June 5.”

As we reported last week many residents have complained about the state of the surface and the number of potholes.

Cllr Harvey, who also welcomed the planned resurfacing works in Bye Street, has indicated the improvements will not be the end of the road when it comes to local highway repairs.

If planned talks go to plan, local residents should expect to see more repair works on more local sections of roads, as a priority.

Cllr Harvey said: "The section of resurfacing to be undertaken in Bye St is also essential and it's economically effective to co-ordinate the work with the resurfacing in the Homend. The road condition along the Homend and Bye Street is dreadful and should never have been allowed to get into the state that it has while priority has been given to rural road repairs.

"I welcome Herefordshire Council's commitment to this work in the 2017 resurfacing programme. It's just a shame that the work wasn't done three years ago when it was originally identified by officers as a high priority."

Cllr Harvey revealed talks with council officers and Balfour Beatty will take place today (Friday March 31), in a bid to get more Ledbury road repairs.

She said: "Other sections of road in the town remain in very poor condition. I'm meeting with officers and Balfour Beatty to press for further priority repairs throughout the town.

"I'd like to assure everyone that their comments, reports and concerns really do have an impact - even if it's not always immediately apparent."