This is the common theme that runs through Oughtibridge, as constant as the river Don.

"If this had happened to a road on the south-west side of the city it would have been fixed by now," they say to a man – and woman.

"We have had that much bumph through the door but no-one does anything," said Denise Ullyett at the village Post Office.

"We are poor relations, if this had happened in Dore or Totley it would have been sorted out a long time ago. The traffic on the roads through the village and thorough Worral has been terrible"

Part-time Post Mistress Amanda Lant agrees.

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"If Ecclesall Road had been blocked do you think they would have had it closed for this long? I don't. I'm a community midwife in Page Hall and it has put four miles on my journey every day and that time could be vital to some people."

In December last year The Star covered the story of City Council candidate Matt Dixon whose baby son Louis almost died from an allergic reaction because of delays in getting him to hospital through detours from the family's home in Bertram Road, Oughtibridge.

"One good thing we have got from it is the bus service has improved tremendously, with the Supertram link bus and the others having to go through the village,"adds Amanda.

"Other than that it's a nightmare for everybody. We have to tackle the backroads to get into town and you can bet your life that no matter what they say it will be another year after they start work before the road is open again."

So why has it taken so long?

The council insists that the location of the road on a hillside above the river and the complex nature of the repairs means that very few contractors are able to perform the repairs.

John Mothersole, interim chief executive of the council, said: "I'm sorry it's taken so long and for the impact this has had on the people of Sheffield. Time has been taken in interest of value for money, so costs could be covered by the Government and that we get a permanent solution.

"Reconstruction of Middlewood Road is complex due to its location on an embankment next to a main river. It needs very detailed design work from an expert to ensure the new road lasts for the future."

But many locals believe they are suffering a lack of investment and a council bias towards other areas.

New Sheffield Council leader Coun Paul Scriven has promised one of the authority's scrutiny committees will hold a public investigation into the delay.


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