The Parish Council has been notified of 12 weeks of gas works starting on 17 February.
Representatives of VIA and Cadent were invited to the Parish Council to provide residents with more information on the closure and how it will be managed. Whilst limited information was provided on the official notice, officers from VIA attended and shared the following information / answers to questions:
- Tollerton Lane will be closed in both directions between Burnside Grove and Medina for 12 weeks.
- The closure will start at Burnside Grove and move along Tollerton Lane as a “rolling closure” until the work is completed at Medina Drive.
- Both Burnside Grove and Medina Drive will be closed at some points during the work.
- Burnside Grove will be closed during the school half term (17 February) with no through route on to Tollerton lane. Residents exiting Sedgley Road should turn left and travel through the village centre.
- The Parish Council have asked for consideration to be given to temporary traffic lights on one of Lenton, Bentinck or Stanstead to allow residents to right turn onto Melton Road.
- The Burnside Grove closure is expected to end before school reopens – however this information was contradicted at the meeting with it reportedly requiring two weeks (whilst the school is only closed for one week).
- Wherever possible parents and pupils should plan to travel to school on foot on Monday 24 February. The Parish Council has requested that VIA/NCC consider temporary no waiting restrictions on once side of Burnside Grove during this time to ensure access to homes on Sedgley Road and beyond.
- The school and playgroup buildings will be accessible but there will be no provision for turning.
- When asked whether one lane could be kept open on Tollerton lane it was explained that the gas pipe being reinforced/replaced is at up to 1m depth and “serpentines” or weaves along the road rather than travelling in a straight line. This means that the whole road will need to be closed with considerable soil etc extracted and placed on the road.
- The road will be dug up across resident’s driveways. At the end of the working day any holes will be covered allowing vehicles to enter/exit property.
- Residents needing to enter/exit property during working hours will be able to do so by making themselves known to workers. A similar system will apply when Medina Drive is closed, with access on request.
- The pavement on Tollerton Lane will remain open throughout the works. Residents needing to cross the road through the works should also make themselves known to workers to check it is safe to do so.
- Access will be provided for emergency vehicles and Rushcliffe Borough Council should advise on any changes to bin collections. Deliveries to residents homes should be advised of the closure in advance.
- Bus services will be notified of the closure and the parish council asked VIA to ensure that this included school buses for the South Wolds Academy and High School. Parents may need to check details with these schools.
- Residents also asked VIA to review the sequencing of traffic lights on Melton Road (at junction of Cotgrave Lane and junction of Tollerton Lane) to account for additional traffic during the closure.
- The Parish Council has also asked for appropriate preparations for a bridge strike on Melton Road. Traffic regularly diverts through the village and will not be able to travel along Tollerton Lane during the closure. We have asked for signage to be included on Melton Road on Lenton, Bentinck and Stanstead stating there is no through route.
- Signage was also requested for Tollerton Lane at the lings bar junction.
Mixed messages
The Parish Council is aware that the yellow signs on Tollerton lane and the letter that has been sent out from Cadent show different locations for the road closure. The Parish Council has stressed the need for consistency of information to Cadent and requested that signage is moved to the correct locations for the closure and that a correction to the letter is provided to residents.
The information published by the Parish Council is as provided by Via and also consistent with the notice of closure. We will share any further clarifications from Cadent with residents.
Drop in
Cadent will hold a drop in session from 10am-1pm on 13 February. We have shared our disappointment with Cadent that they have scheduled this during the middle of the school / working day rather than at times when residents and parents are more likely to be passing.
It is particularly disappointing that while the Parish Council was providing advice to Cadent on preferred locations, they prematurely circulated the letter. The Parish Council would like to see Cadent extend the drop in to include either the morning or afternoon school pick up, especially to ensure that those pupils who live out of catchment understand the closure.
Copy of letter sent out to residents offering a drop in information session:
FINAL – 07.02.2025 – Gas Mains Replacement – Tollerton Lane – EMGI250003
The Parish Council has also sent this to the school for circulation to parents.