RESIDENTS of a small village in the Valleys are furious after a council barred the communities "main life line".

The people of Cwm Argoed, near Blackwood, are warning that lives could be lost due to Caerphilly council's decision to shut to through traffic Cwm-corrwg, also known as Castle Hill, which is the main link to surrounding communities.

Clayton Shook, 59, of Upper James Street, claims ambulances will be unable to respond to emergencies in the village as quickly as they could have had the road remained open because they now have to take a lengthy detour.

He also said the only other road out of the village is too steep to negotiate after snow - which has been forecast for the week ahead.

Villagers are campaigning for the road to be reopened with immediate effect.

The local authority made the decision to block the lane halfway along it after fielding complaints about high numbers of motorists using the road as a shortcut between Argoed and Oakdale because of hold-ups on other roads caused by the construction of the Sirhowy Enterprise Way.

The council have not said how long the road will remain closed although Mr Shook said there are rumours it could be as long as 18 months.

"If that is the case then I don't think it will ever open again," he said. "I think it is absolutely disgusting because this road is our life-line.

"People could die from this decision because an ambulance will take something between half an hour to an hour longer to get to the village through Pontllanfraith because that is a horrendous journey at the moment.

"The other road is too steep to drive along in the snow and I've seen cars sliding into walls trying to get up there."

He added: "There was no consultation about this closure and it seems the council don't give a damn about us as long as they have their council tax.

"This road needs to be kept open at all times, and at all costs." A spokesman for Caerphilly council said: "The council has made an order to close the lane to through traffic in the interest of highway safety.

"The lane is very narrow and is unsuitable for the volume of traffic which has been using the route recently. Access to properties located along the lane will be maintained."