AROUND 10 businesses in Cinderford are bearing the brunt of a ‘sudden’ 10-week road closure as work to the spine road at the Northern Quarter gets underway.

Residents living in Newton Road, just off Broadmoor Road on the Forest Vale Industrial Estate, are also affected.

Julian Grail at JM Grail Engineering and Grail Laser Profiles says the road closure, which came into effect on Monday, is of ‘great concern’.

He said: “We are very concerned that there is a very real prospect of gridlock in Newtown Road as there are a number of business that rely on the use of HGV and public service-type vehicles. The fact there is no system in place for this while the road is closed is a great concern.

“We were first made aware of the closure just over a week ago when a workman from the site handed us a piece of paper with the details. His words were ‘don’t shoot the messenger, but…’”

The road is closed from the Forest Dialysis Unit to the junction adjoining Steam Mills Road until November 1.

Gloucestershire County Council says an initial letter drop outlining its plan to close Newtown Road for access from Broadmoor Road was sent on July 8.

Julian added: “We are pretty sure we didn’t receive this letter, if we had it would have given us more time to rearrange the way in which we receive and send out deliveries. In the meantime we are working this out as there just isn’t anywhere for large vehicles to turn. We are also concerned about access for emergency vehicles.

“We met with the contractors (Buckingham Group Contracting) who have promised a solution but, as yet, none has been forthcoming. There has been no thought on how the closure will affect everybody.”

Chris Riley, project manager for major schemes at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We appreciate the closure may cause some inconvenience and we will be working with the local businesses to accommodate their needs as much as possible.

“We sent letters to local residents and businesses in the area at the beginning of July and another again at the end of the month informing them of the work and advising them of the diversion route so people can still access their business.

“Road signs were also put up at the start of July to remind people that work would be starting in the area, with additional, more detailed signs going out last week to confirm the closure was due.

“While the official road closure is for the whole ten weeks, we will aim to reopen sections of road wherever possible.”

The Gloucestershire NHS Trust for the Forest Dialysis Unit failed to comment before the Review went to press.