Call to remove A338 road closure signs 15 miles away from works
There are concerns it's stopping people driving down the road despite less than a mile stretch being blocked off.
Last updated 11th Sep 2020
There are calls from a Fordingbridge business to remove the "A338 No Access" signs that are currently placed at Ashley Heath roundabout near Ringwood.
Caroline Roylance, who owns The George pub, has said that people are making less visits to towns and villages along the A338 as the sign suggests that the whole the road is closed.
There are currently resurfacing works going on near to the Britford Park and Ride site, but the closure is less than a mile along.
Signs are around 15 miles away from where the work is taking place.
Caroline told Greatest Hits Radio:
"There's definitely less people driving through Fordingbridge and a lot less people on the A338 so I don't think it's just Fordingbridge being affected I think a lot of towns, businesses and villages like Downton and Breamore are being affected as well.
There's a lot less footfall and people driving past, we like to take bookings for track and trace but we do take customers that just walk in as well, and just take their details on arrival, but there's just less of that happening and we're getting no walk-ins."
Caroline posted something about it on their Facebook page on the 2nd September and was contacted by a local councillor to say he'd have the signs changed, but over a week later and they are still the same.
She added:
"After lockdown and businesses being closed for over 100 days it's quite sad that now we're having to fight to get people to us because they think the road is closed so just need everyone to know that we are open and all the others around the town are also open."
In response, Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Highways, said:
“We have placed advance signs far afield so that people are aware of the A338 closure and can choose an alternative route, including following the official diversion.
Notices of the advanced works were placed as pre-warning two weeks ahead of the start of the scheme, and signs are in place for the duration of the works, including signs that advise of businesses being open as usual.
The signs on the approach to Fordingbridge clearly state that there is no access to Salisbury on the A338, and that traffic should follow the diversion. It does not encourage motorists to avoid Fordingbridge.”
COUNCIL APOLOGY
The resurfacing work began on Thursday (3rd September) and is set to continue every weekday until the 25th September.
On that first day, traffic through Salisbury caused huge delays in the morning, which promoted Wiltshire Council to issue an apology.
Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Highways, said:
"We apologise for any inconvenience caused to road users, but this road is in need of urgent repairs and a deep reconstruction is required, so this work needs to be completed now.
The road will be closed on Monday-Friday for three weeks, reopening at 6pm each Friday and closing again at 7am on the Mondays.
We recognise that there is never a good time to do roadworks, and the timing is always going to be a compromise considering other demands for road space on our network, but we have agreed this with other organisations, including Highways England and utility companies.
The 24-hour, Monday-Friday, closure means that, weather permitting, the works will be complete within the three-week window planned, with some work overnight; the work would take more than five weeks if the road was reopened each day."