Road closures on A4117 near Ludlow for the next few weeks cause concern

It was initially proposed that the A4117 would be closed during the day. It has now been agreed that the works will now take place overnight only.

Details of signage and barriers to discourage rat running along Squirrel Lane is being negotiated.

“The road through Caynham was due to be resurfaced at the same time, which was have made problems much worse,” said Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North, who has been working on the issue with Richard Huffer, the councillor for Clee.

“That project has now been pushed back until the A4117 work is completed.

“Firstly, a thank you to everyone who has contacted us in the last few days about the various roadwork schemes east of Ludlow. It has taken a few days for officers to negotiate with contractors to get a scheme we can live with.

“We are still concerned about rat running overnight along Squirrel Lane and will continue to discuss that with officers.

“The work is part of Shropshire Council’s carbon neutral patching and resurfacing programme. The council plans to treat an area of the A4117 from Rocks Green to Snitton Lane with restrictions in place from Monday, April 19 to Friday, May 7 inclusive.

“Closing this road during the day would create problems for schools, public transport, vaccination centres, the daytime economy regeneration after the pandemic in the rural south, and could lead to HGV rat running through local lanes.

“The highways team examined whether a convoy traffic signal control, reduced speed limit with vehicles being guided for some distance through the works on a shuttle basis, and at alternative methods and closure times.”

The concerns have been increased by recent incidents in which heavy lorries have got stuck trying to get through narrow roads.

In some cases the use of sat navs has added to the problems by directing traffic to use routes that are unsuitable for large vehicles to use.