People living on a quiet residential street in Newport which was considered one of the most desirable spots in the city say they’ve been “living like prisoners” for five years after the council closed the only road access to their houses over serious safety concerns.
Five years on, the people living there say there has been very little progress and they feel trapped while the value of their properties plummets.
In August 2021 residents living at Forge Mews in Bassaleg found themselves isolated when Bassaleg Bridge, which needs to be crossed to reach Forge Mews, was closed due to safety issues identified by inspectors.
After lots of back and forth it was decided a new bridge would need to be built. But no-one living at Forge Mews has any idea when that will happen. The council has said it can’t afford the works required for the new bridge and is searching for extra funding to complete the work.
In the meantime people living at Forge Mews – some of whom are elderly – say many feel housebound because they no longer have easy access to cars which have to be parked a 10-minute walk away.
Some also say they’ve been unable to sell their homes because the value of the properties has decreased as a result of the unsafe bridge.
Residents have told WalesOnline that for five years they haven’t been able to do normal things such as park close to their homes, get food or gifts delivered, have their bins properly collected, get work done to their homes and load up their cars for long trips away or visits to the local tip.
Martin Bekker, 50, who lives on the cul-de-sac, said: “Elderly residents have been left housebound and when there are emergencies the fire engines and ambulances can’t access our houses.
“We can’t park outside our houses or use our driveways, so we have to park about a 10 minute walk away. Newport City Council said we would all get a free parking permit to use on the residents-only parking over on the road opposite. It’s been two and a half years since I applied and I am yet to receive one.”
Mr Bekker said he has received a significant amount of parking fines as a result. He added: “I have had a number of parking fines put on my car despite the council knowing I live in this street that is cut off from the rest of Bassaleg. We live like prisoners here.
“There is an elderly man who lives a few doors over and he can barely walk. If he does decide to go out it takes him 45 minutes from his door to where he can be collected in a taxi. It’s caused him and other elderly residents to become housebound. It’s disgraceful.”
Sarah Williams, 58, bought her home at Forge Mews 25 years ago and said she’s been left frustrated she hasn’t been able to have anything done to her home or even any new furniture for years.
“We are trapped in here. You can’t get your shopping delivered, can’t get any new furniture delivered,” she said. “I was out with my friend the other day shopping and I saw a lovely outdoor table and chairs. She asked me why don’t I get it and I said: ‘How on earth will I get that home?’
“I am desperate for a new kitchen but it is physically impossible for me to get tradespeople here. It’s things we never had to think about before.”
Ms Williams added: “For example, if it’s a weekend and the local pub is busy, there are people going for food at the restaurant Junction 28, and there is something going on at the church, you’re stuck and there is nowhere to park.
“Having to walk with your belongings back and forth to your car everyday, often in the pouring rain. In the height of winter the roads obviously aren’t gritted so it can be treacherous at times.
“It’s terrible and I feel like we could be living this way forevermore. It’s been this way for five years.
“You take it for granted, the freedom and lifestyle we had before. I can’t tell you the impact this has had on my mental health. I just know I can’t live the rest of my life like this.”
When Ms Williams’ mum died she hoped to sell her property at Forge Mews to move into her mother’s house. Though not only was Ms Williams’ property valued thousands of pounds less than what it would be if there was road access, it is also “unmortgage-able”, she said.
“People can’t get mortgages on these homes because of our situation. They’re unmortgage-able. Unless there is a cash buyer, home owners here are unable to sell. They just end up renting them out.”
On bin day residents have to carry their bins to the end of the street, for some this is around 100m from their homes. They have to leave them where the bin men can access them from the road.
At one point, due to the accumulation of rubbish, residents said they had a rat infestation. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter
Despite the impact of the bridge closure on their daily lives, residents continue to pay their council tax in full. Mr Bekker said: “It is crazy, there should surely be some kind of reduction.”
Julie Collins, 61, is worried about emergency access to the street. She said the way they live has brought them together, as they have to help each other.
Ms Collins said: “I would always look after a woman who lived across from us, just with little things at first, like helping to fix her TV and getting her some shopping. She had bone cancer and would regularly have to visit hospital.
“She could hardly walk and the ambulance couldn’t get inside to drop her home. Instead the paramedics would have to wheel her in a chair in the pouring rain. It’s wrong.”
Ms Collins, like Mr Bekker, said she has also been waiting years for her parking permit. In the meantime she has also received fines for parking in residents’ parking bays hundreds of metres away from home.
In 2022 there was a fire at one of the houses. The fire service managed to access the property through a padlocked gate which leads from the estate to the A467 dual carriageway, but the ambulance went via the old bridge and was unable to gain access.
Residents say access from the A467 is only allowed in exceptional circumstances and they do not get to know the code to the lock on the gate.
The latest update from the council stated that the bridge could not be fixed and instead would have to be rebuilt. The work on constructing this new bridge was due to begin in April of this year.
Though as of July there are no workmen or plans for a new bridge in sight. There is, however, a shiny new green fence blocking the road now instead of the temporary silver railings and road closure signs.
A spokesperson for Newport City Council responded: “The council is continuing to work on finding a solution to the bridge issue at Forge Mews. Following an options report produced by external specialists, we identified a preferred solution which is to replace the existing bridge with a new one.
“We are trying to source funding to carry out this work. We have funded work on the project to replace the bridge, including stabilising the structure and carrying out surveys and the options appraisal. However, the costs of constructing a new bridge are far greater than the resources available to us.
“We understand that the residents of Forge Mews are frustrated that the bridge remains closed. We are doing everything we can with the resources available to us to resolve this.
“We have been working to establish better communications with residents and the local community council and we will keep both updated with any progress.
“We have taken on board residents’ feedback about issues with waste and recycling collections. We’ve also responded to concerns they had about people not being able to find Forge Mews, by designing and agreeing extra signage, which is due to be installed this summer.
“All emergency services partners know that access to Forge Mews is only available via the A467 and they have been provided with the code to unlock this gate.”
