Part of a road in Newport where a hole opened up has been cordoned off for safety reasons. Orb Drive, just off Corporation Road, in Lliswerry has been partially cordoned off after residents reported a small hole in the road which opened up on Monday, July 18.
The area of the road has been cordoned off close to B&Q and Black Ash Park and both Newport City Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water are investigating the issue. There have been a number of issues with holes appearing along roads in Lliswerry over the past few months including one which closed Cromwell Road for more than three weeks last September.
The Lliswerry area has a number of reens – running waterways that links a ditch or stream to a river – lying below the ground which have previously been thought to have caused issues. Council investigations into the Cromwell Road issue last year discovered that a bricked culvert carrying a historic water course running under the carriageway was damaged and water had started to leak through the sides and had to be repaired.
Since then holes have also been reported in Durham Road in December and in Jenkins Street in May. Lliswerry Cllr Allan Morris said the number of issues in the area was concerning.
"A resident noticed the hole in the road and reported it. Fair play, the wardens came out straight away and made the area safe. They're investigating and are waiting on an update," he said.
"It is another one. It's a little concerning but the whole drainage system is absolutely ancient – around a century old or more. There are many culverts in the area, most of which were very well built, but they're very old. With the increase in the traffic we are seeing it is not helping at all. These were built before there were many cars. They are very old and holes seem to be popping up everywhere."
A Newport council spokesperson said: "Newport City Council has investigated a void in Orb Drive and found it is not related to drainage issues. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has now been asked to investigate. In the meantime the area has been cordoned off for safety reasons." Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water was contacted for comment.
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