Locals claim that a road that has “over 100 potholes” is “crumbling apart” – and it is causing a danger to drivers. People from St Neots and on the Cambridgeshire border are using Barford Road daily as an alternative to avoid roadworks on the A1 at the Black Cat roundabout.

However, this road is filled with potholes. Cristian Lambourne said there is an “epidemic” of potholes along this road.

“Someone said on Facebook they counted over 100 potholes along the road – it’s ridiculous,” said Cristian. He added: “When you travel down that road, you see a lot of people swerve.

“They are facing oncoming traffic, which isn’t good. I had one incident the other day when I was travelling around 50mph and it sounded like something physically smashed in my car.

“It seems crazy there are so many.” Cristian said potholes are temporarily fixed, but they are not “fixed properly”.

He added: “We are expected to have an MOT done on our cars, but the roads are damaging our cars.”

Lynne Otto travelled down the road daily to visit her husband in a hospice. During the last two weeks, her tyre blew and it cost £140 to repair. “It was a cost I didn’t need,” said Lynne.

She added: “I am not working as I’m visiting my husband daily.” Lynne used the road as a way to avoid the Black Cat Roundabout works. However, she is now enduring a longer journey on the A1 to avoid other problems.

She said: “I can’t risk getting another problem. When my tyre blew, I was in a stream of traffic and I couldn’t stop.

“It’s shocking. In the day you can swerve, but in the dark you can’t. The road has gotten that bad because everyone uses the road rather than the A1. It should be a priority.”

Steven Ellmers said the road is “dangerous”. He has experienced some “near misses” along the road. Steven said: “The whole road needs resurfacing. It’s especially bad when it’s dark and raining.”

Leah Martin lives in Tempsford and has “no choice” but to travel on the road daily. She said: “In January, the top mount of my front wheel collapsed after hitting one [pothole] and that then caused my brake caliper to lock onto my brake disk. I was £640 out of my pocket, caused by the state of the stretch of road.”

Leah said it is an “accident waiting to happen” along the road. Leah added: “I’m pretty angry at having to fix my van due to the neglect of this road.

“The Black Cat Roundabout roadworks have had numerous detour routes along this road the last couple of months. The sheer amount of traffic and lorries have had to use it has contributed hugely to the state of it.

“It simply can’t handle the amount of traffic.” Jay Tucker said driving along the road in the morning is a “nightmare”.

He said: “You have to weave around them [potholes] which sometimes mean going into the other lane. It always worries me that if I hit one, I’ll damage my car.”

David Watson claims there is a pothole “every few yards” and drivers need to weave around potholes. “I have to drive along it at night to get to my evening job and I dread it”.

Central Bedfordshire Council oversees the stretch of road. Councillor John Baker, executive member for finance and highways at the council said: ‘We are currently undertaking carriageway resurfacing and patching works on this road, which are scheduled to be completed by close of play Monday (February 23). We also carried out emergency repairs a few weeks ago to ensure the road remained safe for all users.”

Several roads leading into and around St Neots will be closed for roadworks throughout February

Over the next month, multiple roads in Cambridgeshire are set to be closed whilst roadworks are carried out. Several roads around St Neots will be closed by National Highways with diversions being put in place.

From Monday, February 9, until Saturday, February 14, the A1 southbound between Wyboston and Tempsford will be closed from 9pm to 5am to allow for new street lighting, permanent signage, and CCTV to be installed. There will be a diversion in place by exiting the A1 at Wyboston Interchange, taking the A428 towards St Neots, and re-joining the A1 at Tempsford Interchange.

To allow for the installation of new drainage, kerbs, and resurfacing, Potton Road from the B1046 junction to south of Eynesbury Plant Hire and the B1046 from Potton Road rail bridge to Lansbury Farm will also be closed. The closure will be in place from 9am on Friday, February 13, until 6am on Monday, February 23.

Traffic will be diverted south on Barford Road taking the first exit onto the A428 eastbound to then continue on A428 towards St Neots. You can then head onto south on B1046 at Eltisley and take Gransden Road and re-join St Neots Road.

The A421 westbound between the Black Cat junction and Renhold Interchange and Bedford Road between Roxton Garden Centre and the Black Cat roundabout will be closed overnight from Monday, February 16, to Saturday, February 21. The roads will be closed from 9pm to 5am to allow for the installation of new street lighting, permanent signage, and CCTV.

A diversion will be in place for drivers to continue south on the A1 and then take the A603 towards Bedford. Drivers will then re-join the A421 westbound at Cardington Interchange.

National Highways is installing rigid grids near to the A421 westbound and will be closing the road between the Black Cat junction and Renhold Interchange. The closure will be in place from 9pm on Friday, February 20, until 5am on Monday, February 23.

For the diversion, drivers will continue south on the A1 and take the A603 towards Bedford. Drivers will then re-join the A421 westbound at Cardington Interchange.

National Highways has said road closure can change at short notice. You should check the National Highways website for its daily closures when you travel.

A number of school pupils were turned away from the school on Wednesday (February 4).

A teenager has been arrested after a Cambridgeshire school received a hoax bomb threat. Cambridgeshire Police were called to Ernulf Academy in Eynesbury, near St Neots, just before 9am on Wednesday (February 4).

The school put emergency procedures in place as a caution after receiving a bomb threat. Officer arrested a 15-year-old boy from Cambridgeshire on suspicion of suspicion of malicious communications.

He has since been bailed until May 3 with conditions not to enter or go within the school location. The school reopened as usual on Thursday (February 5).

Sergeant Rob Streater, from the St Neots Neighbourhood Team, said: “Neighbourhood officers will be out on foot patrol today and Friday, and available to speak to anyone who may have concerns.

“On behalf of the school and local police, we would like to thank parents and members of the community for their support.”

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