Monmouth councillors met with allotment volunteers to discuss the poor state of the road which runs up to the Two Rivers Meadow, writes CHRIS WERE.

For the last few years, the allotment association have been trying to improve the road conditions, which lead up to the allotments in the Two Rivers Meadow, where the rivers Wye and Monnow meet.

Original plans were to resurface the road with tarmac, joining on to the existing road leading up to it, however a number of concerns threw that course of action aside in favour of an alternative solution.

Warren Courtney-Rickets and Ian Townsend from the allotment association discussed plans on how to move forward.

The said that whist re-surfacing the road would be expensive, they would hope that various grants would have helped.

Mr Courtney-Rickets told the committee a full resurfacing would cost a great deal of money and having to pay for a full topographical map of the area.

It was thought that a less expensive option would be more preferable. Pressed stone with a curb to stop raising river levels would be a more reasonable way forward. However it would likely need to be checked every two years, or more depending on the level of flooding.

Whilst this new plan would be cheaper than tarmacking over the path, a new costings and on site survey would need to be done. During the warmer months and in the aftermath of the lockdowns, professionals who can assist are still catching up.

Over £13,000 of funds has previously been put aside for the resurfacing, however, that was on the expectation that the surface will be tarmac.

Regulations require sustainable drainage as part of the road, which would further raise the cost of a tarmac surfacing. Due to the rising costs of project, Mr Courtney-Rickets and Mr Townsend felt that it was not a good use of taxpayer money and felt that a cheaper solution would be more responsible.

They will be returning to the committee with a cheaper solution that still functions well and looks pleasant. Pressed stone or other solutions may need topping up every few years, but as the road is not too busy, they felt it shouldn’t been a problem.

The new plan is expected to be well below the current cash set aside of £13,750.

Cllr Sue White raised the question as to whether they would need planning permission to add a curb to the new surfacing. Mr Courtney-Rickets said that there is a curb already in place, however due to years of flooding, it has been buried by silt.

Cllr Roden proposed that, pending the new costings, to supporting the allotment association. The motion was carried and councillors will be updated at the October 11 meeting.