Castleman Trailway to be used as A31 footpath to close

Numerous people attended in-person and virtual information meetings organised by National Highways which proved so popular that the authority added more to the schedule.

However, some residents have expressed concern over the closure of the A31 footpath leading onto West Street in Ringwood which leaves the 16.5 mile Castleman Trailway as the only available footpath into Ringwood.

Regarding the footpath, Highways England said to residents: “Unfortunately, we’ll have to close the footpath to West Street along the westbound carriageway to Verwood for the duration of our works.

• Read more: A31 works: What's happening and when?

“This is a major civil engineering scheme and we must keep everybody safe by keeping people and machinery apart. We’d be unable to do that safely with the path open.”

Rebecca Burns, who lives near the Ashley Heath roundabout, said that the community “will be hemmed in” because of the works and has been unable to get answers from both Dorset and Hampshire County Councils.

She said: “None of us have the time to be a detective but the main issues are from our community footpath into Ringwood, which won’t be open during the works.

“Many children that attend Ringwood School use this to get to and from school.

• Read more: Traffic "chaos" fears as contraflow to be in place for months during A31 revamp

“We’ve been told that the Castleman Trailway needs to be used now instead but we’re concerned about this. The trailway is not maintained, not well-lit and floods. It’s not a safe place to direct children to be coming home in dark after school especially in the winter.

“A couple of residents have brought up the Sarah Everard case as well so we’re just a bit uneasy.”

Another resident said: “It’s just unbelievable. I wouldn’t walk along there now, so it’s going to be impossible during the winter months. It’s totally inappropriate and unsafe for school children, people with pushchairs and wheelchair users too.”

End of the Castleman Trailway onto the B3081 towards the A31. Picture: Google

The Castleman Trailway passes through the Dorset and Hampshire border and is managed in partnership by Dorset Council, BCP Council and Hampshire County Council with support from other organisations.

Regarding responsibility for the roads, a National Highways spokesperson commented: “On the Hampshire side of the border, National Highways manages the A31 and Hampshire County Council manage the local road network. Once the A31 passes over into Dorset this all becomes Dorset Highways.

“We are liaising with both as part of the scheme, and BCP Council has also been notified.”

Councillor Russell Oppenheimer, executive member for highway operations at Hampshire County Council said: “While there is likely to be localised traffic congestion as a result of the major National Highways scheme on the A31 and also South West Water’s work in the town, which itself is connected with the National Highways project, it would be a good idea for people to plan their journeys before they travel to take account of these works.

“We will be doing all we can to encourage people to use the designated diversion routes which will be clearly signed by National Highways.”