CONFUSION reigned over the last few days when Rodbourne residents were sent a letter by Network Rail warning them of a week-long road closure that had already been refused by the council.

A Labour councillor then issued a statement in response to the letter condemning the council for failing to refuse a road closure request they had already refused.

Network Rail had requested permission from Swindon Borough Council to close a single lane of Park Lane from February 22 to February 26 to allow for the dismantling of a wall as part of the railway electrification works.

Park Lane is a narrow route that already accommodates more traffic at peak times than it was designed for, it operates using a single lane in each direction so the planned closure would have immediately halved the already strained capacity.

The council refused the closure request in order to prevent more disruption to the already strained road network around the railway.

But the confusion multiplied when, obviously unaware of the refusal, Labour Councillor Jim Robbins released a statement criticising Network Rail and the council for failing to consider the interests of motorists and Rodbourne residents.

He wrote: “With the traffic still snarled up in Rodbourne because of the never ending Bruce Street Bridges works, there's no way we should have a lane shut on Park Lane whilst people are using it as the main alternative way out of Rodbourne.

“It seems strange that Network Rail are proposing this while they still haven’t finished opening the bridge at Greenbridge, perhaps they should spend their time finishing this rather than creating further traffic headaches for Swindon commuters.

“Rodbourne residents and workers in Rodbourne have suffered too much for Network Rail and Swindon Council to agree to added road works misery. I would urge Network Rail to postpone these works until after Bruce Street Bridges has been completed.”

Responding to the statement, which was published on the Swindon Labour website and sent to local media outlets, Cllr Heenan said: “I've told Cllr Jim Robbins three times that the road closure request was refused by Swindon Council.

“This was an honest mistake by Network Rail.

“The good news is the preparation work by Network Rail is going ahead with no disruption to road users.

“We must do all we can to ensure there are no delays in replacing the Rodbourne road Rail Bridge because replacement is urgently needed to, in Network Rail's words, prevent an active risk to rail use and public safety.

The wall along Park Lane is still going to be dismantled but it will be done from within the site negating the need to close the road.

Residents will now have to wait until March to learn whether plans for the next closure, due to last almost a month from April to May, will go ahead as planned.