Campaigners' ire over 'forever' roadworks

1 hour ago

Zac Sherratt,in Ottershawand

Joshua Askew,South East

News image — Campaigners have said parts of the area have been turned into a wasteland

BBC Two men in a compilation photo. One has grey hair and a big grey beard. The other is wearing glasses and a green jacket. — Campaigners have said parts of the area have been turned into a wasteland

Campaigners have complained that it feels like a Surrey road project is "going to go on forever".

Work on the A320 near Ottershaw Roundabout in the Chertsey area began earlier this year but was halted in May.

Bob Oliver from the Ottershaw Neighbourhood Forum claimed works had breached multiple planning conditions, including the destruction of a wooded area that left behind a "wasteland".

Surrey County Council said it recognised the roadworks were frustrating for residents and road users.

A council spokesperson says the pause "allows the council to work with the contractor, arboriculturists and ecologists to carry out surveys and agree measures to ensure the continued protection of trees and habitats, as well as replacement planting to mitigate loss of trees and vegetation".

Cones and red fencing litter a barren construction site. — Nigel Eastment said the area was like a building site

Nigel Eastment, also of the Ottershaw Neighbourhood Forum, told BBC Radio Surrey the situation was "desperately sad".

"We just have [now] a huge building site and seemingly no way out of it.

"It just makes you wonder who's in charge of this and how they're making decisions that end up with something so obviously wrong," he said.

Campaigners previously told the BBC the scheme - which they claim has made the area look awful - has caused "huge" traffic disruption.

Dug up, dry earth is pictured behind a metal fence. — The roundabout works are part of a wider road infrastructure project

Work on the Ottershaw Roundabout is part of a wider nearly £42 million project to improve the A320 in Surrey.

Improvements will include widening and resurfacing the road and improving traffic capacity and flow through four key junctions and link sections between Ottershaw and Chertsey.

The wider scheme is currently scheduled for completion by autumn 2027.

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