Fixing the centre of a Herefordshire town damaged by floods will take months – to the exasperation of locals.

Flash flooding of Sunday May 12 washed away paving stones and their base in Broad Street, Ross-on-Wye, while water welling up from underneath the road damaged the tarmac surface, forcing the closures to both.

As well as being impacted by the closures, shops on Broad Street and its continuation, Brookend Street, also suffered flood damage.

Ross-on-Wye ward and town councillor Ed O’Driscoll said he had “finally” had a meeting yesterday (May 22) with representatives of Welsh Water, Herefordshire Council, its public realm contractor Balfour Beatty and local MP Jesse Norman, to discuss timescales for repairs, compensation for businesses and health and safety concerns.

Hereford Times: Coun Ed O'Driscoll is keeping the pressure on to get the street fixedCoun Ed O'Driscoll is keeping the pressure on to get the street fixed (Image: Rob Davies)

But he emerged “very disappointed with the outcome” – with work on the sewers taking a further month, repair of the pavements by mid-July, and resurfacing of the roads by the end of September.

“While it's a nightmare, we at least have some idea what's supposed to happening and when,” Coun O’Driscoll said.

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Meanwhile Welsh Water will investigate compensation claims for impact on trade, as well as for flood damage, between now and mid-July, he added.

Cheeky Tito’s chicken takeaway in Broad Street, which had to close for two days after the flood, posted online that even now, the street “looks like a warzone” and is putting off customers.

“The lack of urgency to resolve this issue is absolutely unacceptable [and shows] a blatant disregard for our livelihood,”, they wrote.

A Welsh Water spokesperson said: “We are sorry for the continued disruption in Broad Street following the collapsed sewer and flooding.

“As a precaution, we are now surveying the wider sewer network in the area to ensure that there isn’t any further damage.”

“The damaged sewer has now been repaired and we have arranged additional work to strengthen the section sewer which is due to be done in mid-June.

“Following this, the damaged pavement along Broad Street will be fully reinstated by July 19.

“We apologise that this is taking longer than we would have liked but we will continue to work with impacted businesses and premises to ensure we put things right.”