Bird's nest stops reopening of shut C10 Station Road at Holmsley bridge

A BIRD'S nest has stopped the promised reopening of a popular road linking the New Forest either side of the A35.

The C10 Station Road has remained shut underneath the main road, which was reopened after three months on 11th April when Holmsley bridge was replaced in a £5.5m project by contractors Knights Brown.

Despite promises by Hampshire County Council that the C10 would also be ready for use shortly afterwards, the route has stayed closed, with fencing across the carriageway.

Although the A35 is open there, it is under one-way traffic light controls and there is no way to cross it travelling in directions between Burley and Sway.

HCC told the A&T the hold-up was due to a bird's nest making it unlawful, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, to move an overhanging temporary support on the west side of the bridge until the chicks leave – although no date was forecast.

A spokesperson said: "The nest is being closely monitored and the work will proceed as soon as the chicks have left."

Social media has been full of motorists complaining of lengthy journeys to avoid the road closure.

One claimed online that a commute between Burley and Ashley had taken nearly an hour.

A staff member at the Old Station Tea Rooms in Station Road reported a continued impact on trade due to the prolonged closure. She said: “It does affect people quite a lot with getting here.”