Mudslide roadworks still in place more than a year later
RESIDENTS DESCRIBE TRAFFIC ‘NIGHTMARE’ AS COUNCIL STILL LOOKS FOR A SOLUTION
RESIDENTS have expressed their frustration at roadworks near the site of a collapsed cliff face which have now been in place for more than a year.
And there is no end in sight for when the works will be lifted, with the district and county councils still looking for a solution to shore up the area.
The roadworks were installed on Rock Hill, Mansfield, after old caves collapsed on to the side of the road on November 21, 2019.
One lane of two going up the busy hill was closed by maintenance officials while investigations took place into the cause of the collapse.
However, one year on and the lane remains closed, with traffic cones blocking off part of the road and a makeshift pedestrian walkway installed near the site of the collapsed cliff.
Both Mansfield District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council say they are looking for a solution to the issue, which has been described as “complex”.
But for residents on the road, the ongoing lane closure has been labelled a “nightmare” – with traffic backing up at peak times and cones being moved and “scattered” in the road.
Susan Topliss, 45, who lives on Rock Hill, says the issue has been going on for “too long” and called for quicker action to find a solution.
“There was some work done recently, but I think that was more to do with the drains,” she told the Post.
“It gets on your nerves with how long it’s been going on for, especially when it’s rush hour and you’ve got traffic going all the way down the road.
“It’s been going on for too long – someone needs to make a decision about who is responsible for it and get it sorted now.”
Amy Mee, 27, who also lives on Rock Hill, says it is “really frustrating” that there is yet to be a solution more than one year on.
“It’s been bad in the past when people have been on nights out and walked past, it turns into chaos.
“The little path for pedestrians isn’t really a path, and it’s also really narrow and isn’t really safe for pushing a pram down it.
“It’s rubbish and needs sorting as soon as possible, and it’s really frustrating that there are no plans to lift it any time soon.”
Steve Wilson, 49, a third Rock Hill resident, added: “It’s a nightmare for traffic in the evenings.
“It’s also bad when people would come up after a night out, or for pedestrians walking down there.
“We have called the police on a couple of occasions because cones have been left scattered in the road and it causes carnage.
“I thought that they would have done something by now, I haven’t even seen anyone there for a while so it’s frustrating.”
Gary Wood, group manager for highways and transport at the county council, says the traffic management measures will be in place until the “best solution” is found.
He said: “Traffic management and a lane closure continue to be in place at Rock Hill in Mansfield following last year’s collapse.
“It is a complex issue and involves multiple landowners.
“We have been working with Mansfield District Council and other interested parties, along with technical specialists, to identify the best solution to stabilise the bank.
“Until these works are complete, traffic management will remain in place to ensure the safety of pedestrians and road users.”
Martyn Saxton, head of planning and regeneration at Mansfield District Council, added: “The council continues to work with the landowners to resolve the issues affecting the site and facilitate the necessary remediation works.”