An elderly resident of Begelly has called for urgent improvements to be carried out to parts of the pavements and roadway in the village, following a tumble by a fellow local recently.

The resident, who didn't want to be named, said the issue at Fir Grove concerning the poor state of the pavements had been ongoing for a number of years, but the final straw came recently when another elderly local fell badly whilst on the way to the village shop.

"He slipped in one of the ruts on the pavement and appears to have cracked a bone in his shoulder and is in terrible pain," the Observer was told

"The pathways have been like this for years and we have been constantly told that the matter 'is in hand' and will be rectified when funding is available, but it's time someone stepped in and the county council finally spent some money on carrying out improvements in this area as it's becoming more and more dangerous, especially for elderly residents.

"If funding can be found to carry out improvements a little further up the road outside Folly Farm, then why can't this area of road finally be sorted."

County councillor for the area, David Pugh, said that he was aware of the matter, but admitted that the county council had hit a 'brick wall' when looking into carrying out improvements in the area, as it was part of a private road.

"We have been looking to carry out works for a while, but the problem we have been presented with stems from the fact that it is a private road, and one of the owners of the properties has objected to the county council pushing a hedge bank back," he explained.

"We are still trying to solve this matter, and think we may have found a solution to the problem.

"With regards to the particular part of the pavement that the resident is referring to, I looked at it one morning this week and maintenance officers are going to look into introducing a dropped kerb onto that section of the pathway," added Clr. Pugh.