A COTSWOLDS road that has been at the centre of a three year campaign will be reopened thanks to a decision taken this week from Gloucestershire Highways.

The old A40 that links villages including Compton Abdale and Hazleton to Northleach closed due to a land slippage four years ago.

Financing the work to get it re-opened would cost around £55,000.

Gloucestershire Highways, working with local county councillor, Paul Hodgkinson, secured £35,000 and Highways declared that they would match any funding contributed by local parishes and the community.

Stowell Park Estate had also pledged £5,000 to help finance the work.

After protracted wrangling over where the final funds would come from, Highways stepped in on Tuesday to help secure funding needed for the scheme.

The proposal put forward by Highways will see traffic allowed through in one new lane near to the slippage area whilst the rest of the road will have two way traffic.

The works could be carried out by next spring.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (GCC, Bourton and Northleach) said: “Yesterday, after discussions with the County Council Leader, I have a commitment to get the road open again and it is really good news.

“This is a perfect example of cross-party working to get things done.”

In 2016 500 people signed a petition organised by Cllr Hodgkinson to allow traffic onto the road again. This was presented to Gloucestershire County Council in 2016.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP visited the stretch of road at the start of 2018 and saw first hand the damage.

The road has become a target for joy riders and a travellers’ encampment recently prompting renewed calls to sort the situation out.

It was originally suggested by the County Council that local parish and town councils should contribute to the scheme but the move proved controversial with residents pointing out that they already paid council tax for road repairs.

Cllr Hodgkinson said: “We have now pieced together the money to get this fixed with the County Council paying the lion’s share.

“I’ve pledged £17,000 from the small Highways Local fund and the Community Grant Fund I get each year. And a generous local organisation has pledged another £5,000.

“A lot of people have already been in touch with me telling me how pleased they are that the road will be open again within six months.

“This is a good day for local people power and I’d like to thank all those who supported the campaign to get this re-opened.”

Commenting on the news, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP said: “The news that funding to carry out the necessary repairs to enable the old A40 to be opened is excellent news for local motorists around the Northleach area.

"It has been closed for far too long and I am pleased that it will now be sorted out.”

Local businessman Paul Fenton, recently set up a crowdfunding campaign to try to raise the final funds needed.

Without the re-opening of the old A40, Paul would be unable to open his new business next year, health and lifestyle company Honest.

He welcomed this latest move: “The opening of the road enables Honest to move ahead with its plans to launch in the Autumn 2019 bringing an innovative and entrepreneurial business to the Cotswolds creating jobs and considerable social and economic benefits to the community.”

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, added:

“This is an issue that both Cllr Paul Hodgkinson and Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown have raised with me. 

"Officers have been working hard to find a fix that’s good for local residents and good for taxpayers. 

"I’m happy that, by working together, we’ve been able to find a good solution.”