FALFIELD residents have welcomed the announcement of repair works to lighting and roads in the Eastwood Park prison area.

Villagers have been expressing concerns about the safety of people living near the prison, who have had to deal with faulty street lighting and dark spots around the main streets in the village, since 2014.

Together with members of the Residents Association, they have been working with Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall in the past few months to press the Ministry of Justice, which manages the estates, to take their concerns seriously.

HM Prison and Probation Service have now agreed to meet the costs of the repairs to the street lighting, with works estimated to be completed by the end of May.

Officials from the Ministry of Justice have also said they are prepared to meet with the Residents’ Association to discuss other issues affecting people living on the Eastwood Park Estate, such as the upkeep of roads.

Veronica Stanley of the Residents Group said: “Church Avenue and Eastley Close in Falfield have had a major problem regarding street lighting for years.

"The Residents Association turned to Luke Hall to gain support, and it is great to see that the work will now be completed very soon.

"We look forward to meeting with officials to discuss these issues in greater depth.”

Mr Hall said: “I decided to raise residents’ concerns after hearing about the ongoing problems they are facing in the village.

"I am delighted to hear that street lighting repairs will now be carried out as soon as possible and that residents will soon get the chance to meet with officials to discuss these issues”.