Dear residents,

As you are aware Sellars Bridge has been closed since 22^nd July to enable essential maintenance and repair work. The attached PDF gives a little clarity as to why the work is being carried out and the timelines of the bridge closure. Essentially, the bridge is to remain closed until 30^th August. We have been informed this is the ‘worst case’ timeline and retain hope the work is carried out and completed sooner than advertised.

The work is being carried out by the Canal & River Trust (CRT). Gloucester Highways agreed to the request from CRT to close the bridge and put a diversion in place to reroute traffic. No consultation was sought with the local parish councils.

We are now being included in the communication plan for the maintenance work of the bridge. This is to be updated every two weeks and on CRT’s Twitter feed in-between x.com/crtwalesandsw

Both CRT and Gloucester Highways have been very good at communicating their plans and we have seen various emails replying to residents that have concerns. It is an important distinction that while the replies might not be the ones we want, we cannot accuse either of ignoring residents correspondence or concerns.

The main concern from residents is the inevitable increase in traffic that is flowing through Elmore Lane West. The hedge growth on the sides has, in the opinion of many of our residents, made the road visibility poor enough to warrant a safety concern.

Both Highways and EA have listened to the concerns of residents and made several visits (4 at last count) to Elmore Lane West recently to asses the hedges and see if there is a safety issue. In their opinion, the level of hedge growth and traffic is not a safety issue. It is currently nesting season which adds a further complication around the hedges being cut back. Unless on future visits they deem it a safety issue they will not compel landowners to cut them. They will keep this under review. It is a very good idea, as many of you have, to complete the ‘report a problem’ link on the Gloucester Highways website page. Inspections should keep being made.

Report a problem | Highways (gloucestershire.gov.uk)

The hedges on the river side of the road are maintained by and are the responsibility of the Environmental Agency (EA). The opposite side is the landowners responsibility. Should either want to cut the hedgerow now, Highways have asked that they are consulted first.

Over the course of a number of years we have, as Elmore Parish Council, put in place a number of measures to encourage road users to slow down which should help alleviate the issue.

Elmore residents can continue to contact Gloucester Highways or CRT themselves and we remain more than happy to make any representation on your behalf. The link below is how to contact us but you might want to contact Vince direct as has a line of communication to both Highways and CRT ().