Victoria Street will be closed around 31 July for the final phase of the resurfacing work near the Upper Marlborough Road section. Work could not be completed last year because contractors found a shallow electricity cable which - had it been severed by the road repair machinery - would almost certainly have killed staff on site and blacked out the city.

Meanwhile Chris is pressing for repairs at the other end - the Alma Road junction which is becoming dangerously uneven.

Chris has been to county hall this week to ensure that the vital repairs on Lemsford Road and Beaconsfield Road will be done this financial year.

Chris comments: ‘There was suddenly doubt because of the former Oaklands site and the lorry movements. But I made it clear that a promise is a promise.’