Motorists slam 19-mile diverted traffic route - for just 550 yards of roadworks

Motorists are furious as a 19-mile diversion has been put in place - because of just 550 yards of roadworks.

Part of St Margarets Hill, in Wimborne Minster, , will be closed for five days for resurfacing work. In normal circumstances, drivers would be advised to go through the town centre - a short detour - to head towards Blandford Forum in the northwest.

But this won't be possible because a road there is closed due to essential water works. It means motorists must use a significant diversion, which takes them through Cranborne Chase National Landscape - a 19-mile route.

Anthony Oliver, Wimborne resident and former mayor, said: "It seems totally crazy to have the two works happening at the same time.
"That will be a fun week for us and anyone else trying to travel around Wimborne."

Another driver, Matt Davis, said: "This council are truly deluded to think that an 19-mile diversion is acceptable ever." A third added: "Well it's mental."

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It's thought the diversion will add 30 minutes onto routes through the historic market town. The route will take cars and HGVs north to Blandford Forum, through the villages of Blandford St Mary, Charlton Marshall, Spetisbury, Sturminster Marshall and onto the A31 before arriving back in Wimborne.

One of the entrances to the Victoria Hospital, Wimborne, and the start of the road from Wimborne town centre to Queen Elizabeth School are in the stretch of St Margarets Hill set to close. Work will commence on October 28 and is expected to be completed on November 1.

A spokesperson for Dorset Council, which was controlled by the Tories until the gained power earlier this year, said: "A locally signed diversion route will be put in place to enable traffic to travel around the closed section."