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‘We feel like prisoners’: Frustration over four months of roadworks on key part of Nottinghamshire A52

By Anesha Dosanjh and Lucy Marshall

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Residents and businesses across three south Nottinghamshire communities have criticised an ‘insane’ lane closure on a key part of the A52 which is due to drag on for more than four months.

People living in Bingham, Upper Saxondale and Radcliffe-on-Trent have spoken out over the Cadent gas company works, which started on the route between the Saxondale island and Radcliffe early this month.

It means the section of the A52, which links Lincolnshire and the A46 to Nottinghamshire, is down to one lane controlled by three-way traffic lights.

Long queues in either direction, delayed buses and problems driving out of Radcliffe and Upper Saxondale due to congestion have become daily occurrences.

The roadworks, involving Cadent replacing gas pipes, are due to take 20 weeks – or just over four months.

Diverting traffic has also continued to cause problems, as the villages of Cotgrave, Cropwell Bishop and Cropwell Butler have become alternative routes for motorists who would otherwise experience delays of 20 minutes or more at peak times.

Although bus company Trent Barton says it can deploy extra bus service vehicles where possible in response, the National Highways project on a different part of the A52 is applying more strain on Trent Barton services to the west of Nottingham.

Several local people told Notts TV on Thursday (June 26) the delays were beginning to have a major impact on daily life.

Theresa Daffern lives on Hudson Way, Radcliffe-on-Trent. She often faces a wall of queueing traffic to exit her estate on to the A52.

She said: “We feel like prisoners on this estate. Twenty weeks is insane. I’m afraid to invite friends over here because of the build-up they have to face.

“It’s impacting our lives massively.”

Jennie Dunphy, who also lives on Hudson Way, said: “Just to go to the village is insane.

“I’ll just avoid going to Nottingham now. I’m leaving at six in the morning just to get to Bingham in time and my train is at seven. I just don’t trust it  – I won’t have time.”

She added: “They should just close the road at eight o’clock at night to six in the morning because half the time they aren’t even doing anything – there’s nobody there.”

Small business owners in the area have also come under pressure. The disruptions have even caused delays in stock arrival for some.

Jay Endra, of Woodside Stores, on the A52 at Radcliffe, said: “Because it’s been closed for such a long time people have redirected themselves to other businesses.

“I’ve had customers come and say ‘sorry but we’re not coming back here’.

“I understand the necessities but closure of one road on one side of the road for such a lengthy period of time is just unacceptable – and there is no working on the weekend.

“Appreciate the effort but they can work at night to make it faster?”

Roger Upton, Nottinghamshire County Councillor for Radcliffe-on-Trent (Con), said: “It’s the time delay it takes. Some people have missed appointments with the GP or QMC hospital.”

In a statement, Cadent network director Richard Sansom told Notts TV the work to upgrade gas pipes was ‘vital’ to make sure gas supply is protected in the Nottinghamshire area.

He added: “I understand these works will cause inconvenience and frustration. This is understandable. However, we are doing all we can to minimise disruption.”

Thanking people for their patience, he added the company would work to complete the upgrades ahead of time.