A site meeting was attended by our Ward Councillor, David Davies, our PC Chairman, Philip Williams and the developers of the new housing estate, KW Bell. 

The works which need to be carried out, which necessitate a total road closure, were discussed and plans viewed. 

There will be two trenches dug into the road, then drains & associated tanks installed. #1 is a foul drain from the development entering a large chamber in the road, then continuing down the road to the vicinity of Book Swap where it will join the existing mains sewer. #2 will be a rainwater drain from the development which will enter another chamber in the road and will continue under the grass verge on the Field Fare side, towards the Book Swap. Further works will be required to extend the rainwater drain but, to minimise the disruption to traffic, this will be done at a later date and will not require another road closure, just traffic lights. 

These works are a major undertaking, involving deep and potentially very dangerous trenches/holes and there is no way it could be done without a full road closure because the road is only 4.5 metres wide where the works will come into the road and highways demand a minimum of 3.5 metres carriageway for public vehicles to be allowed to pass through. 

I spoke with the Site Manager today and he confirmed that there will be a pedestrian path, 1.5m wide, alongside the works, to enable the adjacent residents to access their homes. They will also absolutely endeavour to provide a route for any emergency vehicles which need to get through.  

Likewise they have agreed to plan their works to enable the articulated lorries with tree felling machinery to reach the village via special steel bridging platforms so that they can carryout the scheduled felling works in the playing field. But, for safety reasons, it will not be feasible to permit the public to travel through at the same time.  

On the upside, although they were originally going to apply for an 8-week road closure with a 4-way road closure at the village centre crossroads as well but no longer need ro do that and, as a result, they are hopeful that, having now employed a second gang of contractors and will have both gangs working 7 days a week, they may be able to complete the works in as little as 3 weeks. So they definitely are trying to be as considerate as possible. 

I have also spoken with Nick Maddy Coaches today regarding the bus service. They were unaware of the road closure but are now assessing matters and will update me ASAP with their plans for the duration of the closure. So far they have said they will still run the buses into the village to collect/drop off at the bus stop and will then turn around and go via the designated diversion via Hoarwithy and Laskett Lane. I will update when I know more about this.

Cllr Jane Lisle