Small mercies on Marston Hill

We all know Marston Hill is a long steep road, a bit of a hairpin and the only practical way in to Cranfield from north and east. We also know that when it's closed we are stuffed. So the closure with hardly any prior announcement in July, by Amey until late in the afternoon caused huge problems. And no one, at Amey or CBC,  seems to want to explain when on earth was going on. 

I've written to CBC today as follows:

(In July) Amey closed Marston Hill for a day for resurfacing. There was not, as far as I was aware, a TTRO and they only put up signs saying "closed for one day over the next two weeks".

A number of people contacted me and I ascertained from Amey it would close on the 11 July. I assured callers that these closures were normally 9.30 to 3.30 to assist schools and the Cranfield "rush hour".

To my horror I discovered that the road remained closed  until after 6.30 pm  with massive congestion down to Salford as university traffic tried to find a way out of the village. There were no diversion signs put up and at RGR garages on the High Street I was told there were constant callers looking for directions. 

It was, in short, a shambles.

We have had a number of complaints about Amey in recent years but this is one of their more cavalier acts. We need to find out if CBC finds their action unprofessional and unacceptable, why they did not follow correct practice and what assurances can we have that they will not behave in this way again. It would be useful to have feedback for the parish council meeting on Wednesday evening.

Incidentally there is no sign of Amey coming back to put on the road markings.

Having said that, there was evidence today of some road markings being applied. We should be thankful for small mercies.