Melbury Abbas unstable slopes road to reopen

The county council said the slopes at either side of the road were "sufficient to engulf a small vehicle"

A main road through a Dorset village which was closed more than a year ago due to unstable slopes is to temporarily reopen.

The county council said slopes which line Dinah's Hollow, in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, were "sufficient to engulf a small vehicle" if a slip occurred.

Traffic will be rerouted into the centre of the road when it reopens in a bid to reduce that risk.

Meanwhile, talks with private landowners are continuing.

Soil nails designed to stabilise the soil and rock slopes are also being tested, Dorset County Council added.

'Alleviate pressure'

Peter Finney, cabinet member for environment, described it as "a very complex and sensitive issue".

He said the reopening of the road would "help to alleviate the pressure on the county's roads during the busy summer months and to reduce the wear and tear of the surrounding small roads and local rat runs".

The authority said it would take up to three weeks to reopen the road, which it closed last April.

Once reopened, temporary traffic lights will be in operation.

Plans to repair the slopes were revised in April in a bid to preserve more trees at the site.

The authority said repairs would be completed next year if land negotiations "go well", or in 2017 if it has to make compulsory purchases.

A two-mile (3km) diversion, via the A350 Blandford to Shaftesbury road, is currently in place.