LONG-AWAITED work began this week to widen the pavement at Porch Cottages, Church Street, Sidford, to the relief of residents concerned for their safety while negotiating the narrow path.

LONG-AWAITED work began this week to widen the pavement at Porch Cottages, Church Street, Sidford, to the relief of residents concerned for their safety while negotiating the narrow path.

In February County Councillor Stuart Hughes reported that lengthy negotiations to buy a strip of land from the cottage's owners to widen the path had been resolved, and he had hoped widening work would begin in May.

Now, he says, the final piece of the jigsaw of safety improvements to Sidford will soon be complete, after nearly a four year wait.

He added: "They say that all good things come to those who wait and the residents of Sidford have certainly been very patient in waiting for the widening of this very short and narrow pavement.

"There have been many incidents where pedestrians have been struck on the arm by passing vehicles' wing mirrors and there have also been cases where vehicles have mounted the pavement.

"I am pleased to say that this will soon be a thing of the past.