A children’s hospice is free to begin resurfacing work on a potholed access road after receiving planning permission from Redbridge council.

Haven House in High Road, Woodford Green, has also been given permission to enlarge dropped kerbs to provide safer access from Woodford New Road.

The hospice and neighbouring Woodford Rugby Club were forced to compromise on the width of the road after the Corporation of London, which owns the land it is built on, refused permission for the resurfaced road to be widened to 20ft.

A deal has now been reached which allows passing points to be widened on Corporation land.

Mike Palfreman, Haven House chief executive, said: “It’s not the full width that we wanted, but in terms of coming on and off the main road it will make life much easier.

“Resurfacing will also allow us to push wheelchairs down the path without bumping over the terrible potholes.

“That will mean we can take the children on outings during the summer months.”

The costs of resurfacing and enlarging the dropped kerbs will be shared by the hospice, the rugby club and nearby residents.

Mr Palfreman added that a contractor was in place to do the work but that no date had been set for the work to begin.