AS PREDICTED, the traffic on the north and west of the Forest ground to an unceremonial halt on Monday morning – following the closure of the A4136 at Plump Hill.

On Sunday, drivers first faced a road block and security guards preventing anyone except residents from passing their checkpoint at The Wilderness. This led to some difficult manoeuvring for larger vehicles as they tried to turn back towards Nailbridge.

Meanwhile, dismay was the reaction at signs put up at Mireystock in Upper Lydbrook. "A4136 Closed at Mitcheldean for Gloucester use A40 via Ross on Wye" was the startling wording that was presented to commuters on Monday morning - with the realisation that they faced an extra eight miles to their usual journey into Gloucester.

Angry reactions to the closure of Plump Hill arrived at the Review from early on Monday, when the tailbacks to get into Mitcheldean, to access the Stenders Road, and into Cinderford, to reach the A48 at Elton Corner, soon grew long - and stationary for long periods.

"This is just ridiculous," fumed one regular commuter into Cheltenham: "This is the main road into the Forest, or out of it if you are headed into town to work. It's unbelieveable that they can close the road entirely throughout the day."

Others also voiced their anger, with Twitter and Facebook as well as local radio carrying angst-ridden messages from annoyed drivers and commuters, some of whom reported a delay in their journey into Gloucester of up to 40 minutes. How long the delays would have been if they had not chosen the half term school holiday for the works can only be guessed at.

Happily, the roadworks are due to be completed this weekend - although questions still remain unanswered about quite why such a major artery could be considered for closure during daytime for an entire week.