THE end is in sight for Old Walcot residents who have had to put up with bumpy journeys and shaking houses for several years.

Swindon Borough Council is staggering work in Upham Road to the road in three phases to minimise disruption.

During that time buses will be diverted and residents living along the road will be unable to use their drives. Parking restrictions along useable sections of the road will be lifted.

Speaking at Immanuel Church where the plans were on display, resident Cyril Freeman said: “It’s been a long time coming. The last few months at the beginning of the year my house has been shaking.

"Even in the night I used to be woken up by the shaking of the road from lorries and buses. It’s going to be inconvenient but I know that it has to be done because it’s in a hell of a state.”

Project leader Keturah Carter-Watts said: “It’s short-term pain for long-term gain.

“Phase one is from just after Burford Avenue to just before Brixham Avenue so that will mean a full 24/7 road closure. Phase two will again be a 24/7 closure from Drove Road to just after Burford Avenue. Phase three is budget-dependent but that will be lane closures.”

“We’re hoping that foundation work for phase one and two will help the road last 40 years.”

Each of the two main phases are expected to take five weeks to finish – phase one starting in mid-June, followed by phase two during the school holidays. The budget-dependent phase three, which covers minor road resurfacing rather than full-depth foundation work, is to be completed alongside the first two phases.

Old Walcot resident Pat Wallington told the Adver: “The road definitely needs it, but it’s going to cause disruption because there are a lot of elderly people and they rely on the 17 bus.

“They’ll have to walk all the way down to Queen’s Drive. For a lot of people it will be impossible.”

Phil Paton, governor of Holy Rood School, said: “It’s great news. It’s well overdue.”

Ward councillor Emma Bushell said: “We’re pleased this is being done because residents have been asking quite vociferously for it.”