More than 250 Ash dieback infected trees to be felled in Sidmouth

More than 250 Ash dieback infected trees are to be removed from alongside the A3052 near Sidmouth and along Station Road in the town.

The trees have to be removed as a precautionary measure to prevent them becoming a safety risk to the public.

From Thursday, 18 March to Sunday 21 March, tree removal work will be carried out on Station Road.

Access for residents at Claremont will only be permitted for those approaching from the direction of the Broadway/Peaslands Road junction with Station Road, with no vehicle access from the direction of the town (All Saints Road roundabout).

Work on Station Road will also be undertaken on Monday 29 March when there will be access approaching from the town.

Pedestrians needing essential access will be asked to wait at the barriers to be escorted through the site as and when it is safe to do so.

From Monday 22 March until Friday 9 April, temporary traffic lights will be in place on the A3052 between the junction with Woolbrook Road and Four Elms Hill while work is carried out from 9:30am to 3:30pm.

Work will not be carried out at weekends or on Good Friday and Easter Monday when the road will be fully open.

Both laybys on either side of the road near The Bowd will be completely closed from Thursday 25 March until Friday 9 April.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management and local County Councillor for Sidmouth, said: "Safety is paramount across all of our highway network and the A3052 in particular is a critical route in east Devon which is very well used.

"To minimise disruption this work is being carried out while traffic levels are lower and it will be completed ahead of the next phase of lockdown restrictions being eased on 12 April."

All of the work is weather dependent which may impact the scheduled timetable in both scheme areas.

For more information on the work on the A3052 go to the A3052 Ash dieback roadworks webpage.