A420 from Giddeahall to Ford to close for 10 days for essential ash dieback work

Wiltshire Council is closing the A420 from Giddeahall to Ford for essential safety work to fell ash trees that are infected with ash dieback disease.

Works to remove around 90 diseased trees and additional crowning alongside the A420 will take place over ten days from 20 March until 31 March. Because of the nature of the work and the machinery involved, the A420 will be closed from Giddeahall to Ford between 9.30am and 7pm each day.

To minimise disruption, the council is working with landowners to incorporate the removal of their trees within this programme of works.

A signed diversion will be in place and 'businesses open as usual' signs will be in place to minimise disruption for local businesses.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this essential safety work. With over 100,000 ash trees growing beside Wiltshire's highways and a further 240,000 alongside public rights of way, the scale of the challenge is immense and work must be carried out as a priority, especially alongside busy high speed roads such as the A420.

"Unfortunately, ash dieback is killing and weakening all our ash trees, and while felling them isn't a decision we take lightly, it's something we have to do to keep this road safe for all users.

"We have committed to improving and protecting Wiltshire's biodiversity in our Business Plan, and so for each one of these ash trees that is felled, we'll be planting three more native trees; some at the same site and others in different parts of the county.

"I'd urge any Wiltshire landowners with ash trees on their land - particularly next to a public footpath or highway - to have them professionally surveyed and felled as appropriate to keep people safe."

Ash dieback disease weakens and eventually kills ash trees. The diseased branches - and sometimes the tree itself - can fall, which is especially dangerous next to a busy high speed road such as the A420.

To improve and protect biodiversity, the council plants three native trees for each ash tree that is felled. 5,160 trees will be planted and these are either placed at the same site where appropriate or elsewhere in the county. Native tree species include:

• Fastigiate beech
• Fastigiate oak
• Wild cherry
• Crab apple
• Scottish elm

To find out more about roadworks in Wiltshire, people should go to Roadworks and related information