FROGMORE & SHERFORD PARISH COUNCIL
ROAD CLOSURE: SHERFORD LANE 1ST – 5TH AUGUST 2018, or ON HIGHWAYS WEBSITE 1ST – 7TH AUGUST, 2018
We have been unsuccessful in our attempts to achieve a deferment of this closure until after the holiday season/completion of harvest. We are advised that as the lane is not an A road ‘utilities’ have priority on such decisions and are permitted to close roads at any time. It is rumoured that the contractors are required to complete agreed projects within 300 days of the date of the contract being issued. They are now 14 days away from their deadline and will incur financial penalties if the work overruns. The contract is to provide additional telephone cabling to Sherford. I am drafting this note outside, hearing combines working around the clock to bring in the weather dependent harvest. Along with tourism, our farmers are the biggest contributors to our local economy.
Julian Brazil advises that there is nothing we can do. The law is the law. It is particularly irritating when our understanding was that there would be no road closures on alternative routes until the Slapton Line fully re-opens. The significant increase in traffic through Sherford is a clear indication that the lane is being used as such – and together with the additional essential farm traffic and holidaymaker vehicles exacerbates the problem.
It is frustrating that this situation seemingly cannot be resolved by a sensible and pragmatic deferment of the work. I would wish to make contact with the contractors [Openreach] to get an estimate of how long the work will actually take. So far it has been impossible to trace the ‘right’ decision makers.
As a community we have two special events planned for the weekend of 4/5th – both of which have been diarised well in advance. We will try to keep you updated on progress but as from Wednesday 1st August, the parish is split in half. There will be no access between the bend before Keynedon Barton and the access gate to David Burner’s land [where a seat is situated].
Please be assured that we have done everything we can.
Nigel Smith
Chair, Frogmore and Sherford Parish Council
01548 531618
