OLD Walcot residents have warned that the area could shed its “placid” reputation – as a confrontation over a proposed road closure threatened to turn ugly.

Borough council officers want to resurface Upham Road, which runs between Drove Road and Queen’s Drive.

Residents agree that the pitted road urgently needs work. But they say there has been a lack of information about when the road might be closed and what arrangements will be made to ensure residents can get into their homes.

Geraldine Fernandes, who has lived in Old Walcot for 50 years, warned parish councillors that the leafy neighbourhood could find its political voice in the dispute.

She said: “We’re often seen as rather placid and don’t do anything nasty to anybody. But it’s getting to a place where some of us are getting annoyed to say the least.”

Mrs Fernandes said that the closure would affect the Service 17 bus route and could leave carers struggling to access the homes of the road’s more elderly residents. 

She feared that the road would be closed during the school summer holidays, potentially leaving residents with no parking for six weeks.

“Most of the residents know nothing about this,” she said. “There’s been no information to the residents. We’ve not had a public meeting and nothing’s been sent to us by the council.”

She asked South Swindon Parish Council to write to the borough council, asking for clarity over the road closure plans. 

Steve Allsopp, parish councillor for the area, backed the proposal. “There’s been no consultation on detail of the way in which the work is going to be carried out,” he said.

“Early understanding is that for five to six weeks people might not have access to their drives. It really is quite a significant issue. Anything that the parish can do to get clarification for residents is a great idea.”

A spokesman for Swindon Borough Council said that an invitation to a consultation event would be sent to residents within weeks. 

He said: “Anyone who uses Upham Road will know that it is in desperate need of repair. In fact, it is so bad the base is literally crumbling underneath, which is hardly surprising considering it is at least 60 years old.”

The phased closure of the road will start in late June. Bus services will be re-routed, with the bus gate at Queen’s Drive opened to all traffic.

“We need to carry out major repairs not only to the surface, but to the concrete base and this will require a phased closure of the road. We have engaged for some time on the work with local ward councillors and will be sending a letter to all residents in the area with details of the scheme and inviting them to a consultation event in the next few weeks where we will outline how we will mitigate any access issues.

“The project is currently out to tender but we anticipate the work will start towards the end of June so that the majority of the work will be carried out during the summer holidays.

“Bus services will be rerouted, but due to the road being closed to through traffic, the bus gate at the Queens Drive end of Upham Road will be opened to motorists to provide another access point for residents.”