WORK has finally begun on improving an "almost impassable" York road following several delays.

Wilton Rise, off Holgate Road, has fallen into a state of disrepair because it has not been repaired for at least 20 years.

It is one of York's 70 unadopted private highways, which is not the responsibility of City of York Council, and residents have never been able to reach agreement after previously being told they must each pay £500 to get it improved.

But the council decided to make "one-off" repairs, as the street forms part of its priority cycleway and pedestrian network. Work was set to begin in April but was put back while the council explored the most cost-effective scheme.

Project manager Alan Jeffrey said the £25,000 scheme would include resurfacing work and improvements to the footpath.

"We're not providing a full reconstruction, which would cost more than £250,000. This is an interim solution which is the next best thing."

Residents' representative Brian Bevan said: "It's better late than never. Let's just hope they don't make a pig's ear of it. The potholes are so bad you can sometimes see sparks fly underneath cars when they drive over them."

Updated: 11:46 Friday, November 01, 2002