Residents in Dorset have called for a temporary road closure that was put in place due to a landslide risk to be made permanent and shelve slope stabilisation plans for the route.
DCC closed the C13 at Melbury Abbas in early April after highway engineers identified there was potential for a landslide large enough to “engulf a small vehicle”.
Traffic has been diverted via the A350 while assessment of the problem is carried out.
DCC director of environment and economic development Mike Harries said: “A report on the slopes was carried out in December, but due to the extreme weather inspection teams have only just been able to return to normal duties.” Harries said that
Despite the road closure, local residents are calling for the road to remain closed and have told the local media that the diversion is preventing HGVs from using the road as a shortcut, which it is claimed was affecting the slope stability.
Brian Hughes, chairman of the local parish council, is reported to have said that the road closure and removal of through traffic has returned the village to life. Hughes is calling on DCC to save costs by not repairing the slope and keep the closure in place.
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