This week saw the B582 between Barlestone and Newbold Verdon re-surfaced as part of ongoing road maintenance by Leicestershire County Council.
Local community members including Barlestone Parish Council and Counciller Bill Crooks have been campaigning for the road to be re-surfaced for some time, but the road has always been a low priority for the Council.
However, beginning on Wednesday July 13th 2010 the road was closed for three days as work took place. Newbold Road in Barlestone was closed at Meadow Road with diversions in place for all traffic. The local bus service (Arriva routes 152 and 153 were diverted out of Barlestone towards Market Bosworth, before turning towards Newbold Verdon to rejoin their usual route before entering Newbold itself.
Work lastest for three days until the road was re-opened on Friday July 15th to all traffic. Now complete, the road now has a completely new tarmac surface from the top of Newbold Road, all the way down Barlestone Road to the junction to Newbold Heath. Gone are all pot holes, oncovered surfaces and scars left by previous roadwork. All traffic markings have also been re-applied including the white speed warnings to the entrance of Barlestone and the read ’30’ zone markings.