Village road collapses

An emergency closure has been put in place after a road connecting two villages collapsed.
The “substantial landslide” saw parts of the route between Saron and Cyffylliog, near Ruthin, slide down an embankment yesterday.
 
Denbighshire council officials visited the site today to assess the extent of the damage and assess what repairs are needed.
The road is expected to remain closed for some time.
Llandyrnog county councillor, Merfyn Parry, who came across the scene last night said: “I had a call last nigh about 7pm off my daughter who was travelling home from Denbigh to Cyffylliog, she said it was dark and came across a branch in the road so she stopped to moved it, it was then she noticed the road below the Fron had collapsed and fallen away.
“Had she not have stopped she would have driven down the bank. I notified the council’s out of hours team who responded very quickly in getting the road closed. I went up myself to check that my daughter could get her car home and looked at the damage.
“It appears to be excess surface water that’s caused the problem. It’s a warning to drivers using our rural roads to drive carefully and be observant of road conditions more so now with the darker nights and the Winter ahead of us.”
There has been praise for the response of the council from the area’s county councillor.
Cllr Joseph Welch said: “From the photos I have seen this morning it seems the road has partially collapsed just outside the village of Cyffylliog on the road towards Saron. I believe the first person that came across this had to stop to move a branch and found the road in this condition so luckily it seems that no one has been injured.
“The council came out quickly to attend to the issue and have placed road closed signs.
“I will be asking Denbighshire to fix this problem as soon as possible as it is a well used road but after looking at the photos I imagine it may be closed for some time.”
A spokesman for Denbighshire County Council said: “Following a substantial landslide that undermined the road the council closed a section of the highway immediately and informed emergency services.
“Officers have carried out a site visit to assess the extent of the damage.
“Repair work will be carried out but it is estimated the road could remain closed for an extended period.”

By Shane Brennan – Local Democracy Reporter