CEREDIGION County Council has apologised for delays in re-laying an uneven footpath in Penparcau which sees wheelchair users forced to use a busy road.

Residents of Ger y Ddôl, the purpose-built bungalows for disabled people next to Min y Ddôl, were told last June that they would get a new pavement in the 2017/18 financial year - but with no start date given for the works.

No work had begun at the site, leaving residents fearing the scheme had been abandoned, but the council said this week that the “commitments” of contractors meant the scheme was delayed, and that work will now start this month.

The announcement of the scheme came after it was revealed in the Cambrian News in the previous November that disabled residents Denise Sepulveda and Julie Davies were “dicing with death” to access St Brieuc path, which allows them easy access to nearby shops and the town.

Julie and Denise told the Cambrian News that they couldn’t even use the footpath on the opposite side of the road because the only dropped kerbs available to them are on a steep incline of the adjacent Third Avenue.

A Ceredigion council spokesperson said: “The works have been fully designed and tendered, and it was intended to undertake the works during the 17/18 financial year.

“Unfortunately, due to other commitments it was not possible for a contractor to undertake the work during March, and it is now intended that the works will begin during April 2018.

“The council would like to apologise for the unforeseen delay in beginning the work.”

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