A county councillor for a Pembrokeshire village has been contacted after ‘needless’ road resurfacing for the area was questioned.

County councillor for the East Williamston ward Cllr Jacob Williams reported to the area’s Community Council that he had been contacted by a resident who was concerned that Clayford Road was being surface dressed needlessly, as the surface was still in very good condition having been dug up and relaid with all new tarmac only a few years ago.

Following enquiries, Cllr Williams was informed that it is standard practice for roads to be surface dressed for the first time (with a layer of tar and chippings) within about seven years of being newly tarmacked.

“This first surface dressing is undertaken without regard to the good condition of the tarmac,” said Cllr Williams.

“It’s purpose is to seal it with a fresh surface before any cracks appeared, into which water could easily freeze during the winter-time causing great damage and expense to the Council.

“Depending on the road, additional surface dressings can take place every eight to fifteen years, three to five times in total, meaning that a newly tarmacked road would have many decades of service, and layers of surface dressings, before needing to be dug up and re-tarmacked,” he added.