Wymondham and Silfield suffer 'diabolical' roadworks

The most recent works have led to the closure of key roads in Wymondham creating a nightmare situation for the town’s motorists and cutting off neighbouring villages.

Drivers also say that diversion route signs are wrong and are actually diverting traffic to the road closures.   

Local Gavin Whitting said: “The regularity of these road closures is too much.

"And because it's such a long round trip just to get into town it feels like travelling to Norwich.

"It's beyond acceptable now."

With no completion date for the roadworks yet, South Norfolk councillor Suzanne Nuri Nixon acknowledged they are causing problems and that the situation was “disheartening” for all involved.

BRIDGE BOTHER

As part of a project to widen the lanes under the railway bridge,  Station Road and Silfield Lane have been closed to allow teams from Norfolk County Council and Anglia Water to dig up the road.

Station Bridge in Wymondham is closed (Image: Suzanne Nuri Nixon)

This route is one of the only ways people living in the village Silfield can get to Wymondham town centre.

Its closure means they are having to take a 10-mile detour to reach the nearby town.

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A woman who lives in Silfield said: "We face diabolical road chaos daily.

"Obviously lots of gas and water work has to be done but rather than do these all in one go, they do one bit, then a few days or weeks later, dig up the same bit of road to do something else. 

Roadworks in and around the town are causing difficulties for the area's motorists (Image: Supplied)

"On top of that, we are also not told of the closures until we see signs appear and only two weeks ago they resurfaced all of the road only to close it and dig it up again the following week."

Locals also say that the road closures are only signposted at the worksite itself instead of further up the two roads to warn drivers of the upcoming obstruction, leading to traffic jams as cars attempt to reverse and go a different way. 

Wymondham town councillor Roland Forsdick has requested more signposting for the work (Image: Roland Forsdick)

Wymondham town councillor Roland Frosdick said: "There is access to the Lizard and pedestrian access, however, there are no road closed signs until you get to the bridge itself.

"And the diversion signs are all incorrect as they are diverting you straight into the road closure.

"I have talked to the project head and he is now going to put 'road closed no access to Wymondham town centre' as far back as Ashwellthorpe and change all the existing diversion signs to show a correct route."

SOLITARY SILFIELD

Station Road and the bridge will remain closed until early September, Anglian Water has confirmed, but this leaves the village of Silfield in a difficult position. 

The Silfield local said: "You can walk into town from the village but it's not really suitable for mobility scooters or larger double buggies as the path is not wide enough.

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"And there is no disabled access over the railway station bridge. We're completely cut off."

South Norfolk councillor Suzanne Nuri Nixon said it was "disheartening" for all involved but the works were long expected.

Councillor Suzanne Nuri Nixon said the issues facing Wymondham and Silfield is disheartening (Image: Newsquest)

"I spoke to the guys on site and they explained about the roadworks," she said.  

"They also said yesterday they got a lot of abuse and traffic lights have had to be put in place for the Lizard residents but I can see this is causing problems for them.

"In short, the only official diversion is, sadly, all the way through Ashwellthorpe.

"Using Silfield Street and Bridge Street is not recommended, mainly because some drivers do not drive with due care and attention along what is essentially a country lane.

"I have witnessed near misses and others have told me the same."