I have written the following letter to the leader, to reflect my concerns about the road closure of A4112, and in particular the poor communications and consultation leading up to it.
The Leader of Herefordshire Council
Herefordshire Council
Plough Lane
Hereford
HR4 0LE
21st October 2025
Dear Cllr Lester,
I am writing to you as the Councillor for Weobley Ward following the news that the Weobley to Dilwyn section of the A4112 (A44 to Hurst Lane, Dilwyn at Berry Hill Cottage) will be closed between the 27th October and the 5th December 2025.
Whilst I understand the closure is to allow for bridge resaddling works that are necessary for the long term structural integrity of the bridge, the advanced communication of these works, and consultation over how the impact of the works will be mitigated, has been absolutely abysmal at a local level.
As the Ward Councillor I was first informed of the closure by email on the 10th October with residents and the Parish Council informed around the same time. This has left no time for discussion around diversion routes, the timing of the work or any mitigation that could be put in place to stop local roads becoming “rat runs” for traffic ignoring the official diversion. I understand that even the official diversion, through Pembridge (outside my ward) is likely to cause major issues. In addition, the letter made no mention of how school transport will continue to access Weobley School or any alterations to either the timetable or the route to facilitate this. More worryingly conversations with staff and parents at the school suggest that answers to these questions are not yet known.
I have already spoken to you to voice my concerns over this and I have tried discussing the matter with Council Officers to understand what can be done to make this closure easier. I am grateful for your confirmation of an urgent meeting with Herefordshire Council Officers and Balfour Beatty to address the following points:
1. what can be done to prevent local roads being overwhelmed with unsuitable traffic;
2. What changes will be made to support transport to Weobley School;
3. What can be done to reduce the length of the closure; and
4. How we can ensure local communities are properly notified of future works in a suitable timeframe, maybe through the new operating model that will follow the end of the Balfour Beatty contract.
It would be unfair of me not to note the good works that your administration has delivered for the ward, and continues to do. In particular I think of road works completed in Canon Pyon and due to be undertaken in Westhope; numerous flooding and drainage interventions across the ward; the improvements in Children’s Services; and of course the continued improvements in financial management driving better value for money. But too often it is failures in communication and consultation that threaten to undo the impact of this good work.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Nick Mason
Weobley Ward