Road closure could be disruptive for Dorset, says councillor

A councillor has said a partial road closure on a main route across a county will be disruptive for local people.

Motorists face a year-long diversion at Dinah’s Hollow as Dorset Council carries out stabilisation works following a number of landslips.

Works will start on the key north-south route on 5 January with an access point for residents and emergency services.

Councillor Jane Somper said: “The disruption will see an increased number of vehicles on the A350, which is a very narrow road, and there are often incidents along there.”

Dinah’s Hollow, also known as C13, is prone to landslips because it is a sunken road.

Ms Somper said a year for the stabilisation works was a “long time”.

“There has been a lot of time spent on the plans and a lot of reports done and the conclusion is that the work needs to be done,” she said.

“It is for a matter of safety and the council clearly has a duty to protect lives.”

There are five villages, including Ashmore Parish and Compton Abbas, that sit along the diversion route on the A350.

“They sit on some very narrow bends which means there are often incidents along there,” Ms Somper said.

“So, having an increase in traffic, particularly large vehicles, is going to cause incidents.”

Employee and pupils from the Shaftesbury driving school, 2nd2None, also use Dinah’s Hollow every day.

Fleet manager Glenn Hollands said the works would be “damaging to many.”

“Dinah’s Hollow being closed for a whole year will route traffic onto alternative and unsuitable routes causing further delays and traffic chaos,” he said.

“Travelling from Shaftesbury to Blandford and further to Dorchester or Poole with pupils for tests has meant that we have to consider alternative routes constantly due to most roads in and out having roadworks and or repair works from other contractors, with very little consideration for residents or business.”

Dorset Council previously said there was a risk of a fatality at the site unless tree felling and stabilisation works went ahead.

Councillor Jon Andrews, cabinet member for place services, said it was a vital safety project for everyone that used the route.

“We recognise these works will affect travel, so we have reviewed all options and developed a comprehensive package of traffic management measures,” he said.

“Protecting the unique wildlife and habitats in Dinah’s Hollow will also be our continued priority, and an ecologist will be on site for the duration of the stabilisation project to ensure everything is carried out responsibly.”