Subsidence fears as cracks appear in road alongside Llangollen Canal

The long cracks have made the road running alongside the waterway in Chirk Bank uneven and dangerous, according to residents.

Community leaders have also voiced their concern about the damage to the road, which is used as an access by people who live beside the canal.

They say the road has to be maintained to a high standard not just for safety reasons but to ensure its deteriorating state does not lead to the area losing its World Heritage Site status.

Ella St John, who lives in Chirk Bank, said: "The damage started appearing a few years ago but in the last month it has got an awful lot worse.

"I think it could be subsidence because cracks have become very big now.

"They are making the road really quite uneven.

"It is bad at the moment and you could easily trip but it will be a lot worse in the winter months when it is covered in ice or snow. It could be treacherous for cyclists and even for people using disability scooters I suppose.

"I raised the issue at Weston Rhyn Parish Council and have asked the councillors to go and take a look at it.

"I have also asked the Canal and River Trust to take a look because it is only going to get worse.

"People are asking what is going on with the road and why it is not being repaired because it is so bad. Angela Bright, chairman of Chirk Bank Community Group, said residents were concerned about the poor state of the road.

She said: "It has become a huge concern because of the extent of the damage.

"It is a worry if this is down to subsidence and we do need to have a good look at this to find out exactly what the cause is.

"This is a World Heritage Site and you do worry about them losing the status if the area is not maintained in a way that it should.

"It has to be maintained because it is used by cars to get to the houses further along the canal."

Howard Griffiths from the Canal and River Trust said the group was aware of the issue and engineers were investigating.