THE ‘old A40’ road, which was used by some drivers to avoid the congested A40, could be reopened in the future, Gloucestershire Highways has said.

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) closed the road indefinitely on September 15 due to damage to a retaining wall.

The road had been temporarily closed under emergency powers in 2015 after an inspection showed that damage to the wall was severe enough to cause public harm.

But since the latest closure notice, residents and county councillor Paul Hodgkinson have been calling on GCC to reopen the road, which links villages including Yanworth, Compton Abdale and Hazleton with Northleach.

Gloucestershire Highways have now confirmed that it intends to start repair works to the wall in 2019/20.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We’re continuing to monitor the old A40, but it is not safe for people to use at the moment as the wall could collapse. There is currently a small diversion and we’re thankful for people’s continued patience.

“Work is scheduled to start in 2019/2020 however, as with any scheme, it is subject to change depending on our priorities.”

Cllr Hodgkinson said: “Many people contacted the County Council asking for the road to be re-opened and challenging the Council’s intention to extend the closure indefinitely.

“People from Northleach, Chedworth. Yanworth, Hazleton, Withington, Compton Abdale and Aldsworth were amongst those who did so. I was personally copied into around 50 emails but I know there were more than that.

“Now, I’m pleased to say that as a result of this pressure County Council highways bosses have said that the road will re-open and have given a projected date of 2019/20 for that to happen permanently.

“This is good but still a long way off and it isn’t guaranteed as it ‘depends on other priorities’.

“So, I asked council officers whether they had considered a temporary fix to get the road at least partially re-opened. They were initially resistant to this but I’ve now had a commitment from them that they are exploring this option.

“If this works out it could mean that traffic can start using the road again before the 2019/20 date being touted. This is a great example of people power.

“I really hope that the Council does re-open the road soon and listens to the many people who have said clearly that after two years closed enough is enough.

“For me this is a point of principle – if we accept roads being closed then we are effectively saying that any road could end up that way.”

Compton Abdale Parish Council is one the parishes that urged GCC to open the old A40.

Keith Jordan, chairman of the parish council said: "The residents of Compton Abdale fully appreciate that the repair will cost a significant sum of money, and that GCC will have to balance this work with other priorities. 

"We are pleased to hear that they are considering temporary arrangements beyond the current closure.

"The residents are very concerned that the current road closure becomes a longer term arrangement. 

"The so-called ‘small’ diversion is far more significant than is suggested in their text. It involves two single track lanes, goes past a school at a very tight intersection in Northleach, and involves a partially blind junction with the busy Fosse Way.

"Hardly a satisfactory alternative. One of our residents has already had an accident which resulted in her car being written off."