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Part of A369 to close temporarily for urgent tree work

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Part of Martcombe Road, A369, is closing from Monday 12 February to Friday 17 February to allow North Somerset Council to fell diseased ash trees.  

The council are closing the section of road on either side of the Happerton Lane junction. It will be closed from 9.30am to 3.30pm each day.  

A diversion route will be in place that’s suitable for all vehicles, including lorries. The public is asked to follow diversion signage. Further information, including maps, is available at one.network/uk/northsomerset

Due to the nature of the work and the machinery required, this closure will affect all motorised and non-motorised traffic, including cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians. No traffic will be allowed to pass in either direction. 

Marshalls will allow access to residents and businesses. 

This work is necessary as the trees are infected with Ash Dieback, a type of fungus that can be fatal. These trees have rapidly declined in health, so urgent action is needed to remove them for safety reasons. 

Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council's executive member for culture and leisure, said: “Ash Dieback is a serious problem across the country, with up to 90 per cent of ash trees in Britain believed to be at risk.  

“We regularly survey our ash trees in North Somerset to monitor this issue, and sadly some infected trees do pose a risk to the public if they aren’t removed safely.   

“In this case, infected trees are close to a busy route, and it’s very important that we remove them safely and quickly. We realise that closing a main road will cause inconvenience and disruption to road users, so we'll carry out the work as fast as we can. 

“This work is part of our commitment to work towards a greener North Somerset, where everyone can safely enjoy our green spaces. Our wildlife and woodland expansion officers are also seeking to plant replacement trees wherever we can.” 

More information about road closures across the area, including diversion routes and maps, is available at one.network/uk/northsomerset

Please also like and follow the following accounts for updates on social media. Facebook: Nature and Climate North Somerset (@NatureandClimateNorthSomerset) and North Somerset Travel and Roads (@NStravelandroads). X (formerly Twitter): North Somerset Travel and Roads (@NStravel_roads). 

More information about Ash Dieback can be found on the council's website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/ashdieback