CONFUSION and anger is reigning over reports that the A4136 at Plump Hill, Mitcheldean, is to be closed during daytimes from mid October.

Concerned motorists called the Review to try and find any more information, but despite scouring the Gloucestershire Highways websites, and direct calls to their press office, the matter still remains a mystery.

Sign boards have been erected at the top and bottom of the hill stating that the road – one of the two major links between the Forest and Gloucester – would be closed from 7.30am until 5.30pm from October 20 to 28.

Gloucestershire County Council Highways Department is said to be sending letters out to local residents in the Plump Hill/Mitcheldean areas, explaining the closures, but this would only take place 'once full construction details are finalised.'

However, Colin Beckett of Coalway phoned the Review to say: "This is just crazy – how can they possibly justify total closure on this road for a whole week.

"It will be chaos. The (sign) boards don't give any reasons for the closure, just the times and dates. But it takes me over an hour to get to work in Gloucester at the moment – so I can't imagine what it will be like when they funnel all the A4136 traffic onto the A48."

Another commuter, who did not wish to be named, said: "Where is all the traffic to go? Cinderford has town centre road works, and the lanes down through Guns Mill are too small for this sort of influx.

"My bus driver said he has no idea how they will be resheduling the routes and times they take. Why didn't we get more notice of this? Why is this being done in daytime and not at night? This doesn't seem to happen in the Cotswolds."

A statement was issued by Gloucestershire County Council as the Review went to press.

Local highways manager Brian Watkins said: "These are planned resurfacing works and advanced notice signs have been installed informing both road users and residents."

He added: "This is essential work to improve a well used road and the benefits to local residents and drivers should far outweigh any temporary inconvenience. Meanwhile improvements will be carried out during half-term to minimise any disruption."

However, residents who we contacted in the Plump Hill area said that they had no idea that the work was imminent – or that it involved daytime closure of this busy Forest artery.

As one man put it: "The Stenders and Littledean and the A48 from Elton Corner to Gloucester are going to be hell for eight days. Whose idea was this?"