Barkway and Barley streets damaged by heavy traffic

URGENT repairs are required to two village high streets which have been damaged by traffic.

According to Cllr Howard Marshall, previous repairs carried out in both Barkway and Barley high streets have now subsided, leaving a series of ruts.

Cllr Marshall, who represents the villages on North Hertfordshire District Council, told last weeks meeting of the district council's Royston area committee that damage is now being caused to Grade II listed buildings that line both roads.

He said: "These buildings are built on ground beams which in turn sit on north Hertfordshire clay.

"As heavy lorries pass through the villages they bounce through these ruts in the roa and cause serious vibration that, it is claimed, is damaging the fabric of the buildings."

Cllr Marshall asked whether the committee would agree to part fund the repairs.

He said: "It would be a tremendous relief to people who are currently being woken up early in the morning by passing lorries."

However, it was agreed that the committee would first ask the Highways Agency to try and address the problem.

Cllr F John Smith said the committee should not "go overboard" in agreeing to pay up before they had heard from the Highways department.