Update: Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Police have now closed the A3102 meaning there is no access towards Wootton Bassett from J16 of the M4

In a post on Facebook the police said: "Please be aware that we are closing a section of the A3102 between Junction 16 of the M4 and Coped Hall, to allow a broken down lorry to be recovered.

"We are expecting it to take around two hours, so should be clear before 4.30pm but we will provide an update when it is clear.

"Thank you in advance."

 

After causing long delays and tailbacks last night, a broken down lorry near Sally Pussey's continues to cause traffic chaos and the road may need to be fully closed to remove it.  

Police had to manage traffic in the early evening after queues of cars tailed back from the A3102 to the J16 slip road on the M4.

Temporary traffic lights have since been installed.

The delapidated lorry is stranded in its spot with members of staff at the nearby gastropub saying the rear axel has snapped leaving the vehicle immovable.

Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Police and traffic management services have now been left with a headache over how to safely remove the HGV and, according to Sally Pussey's, have come up with an interesting plan. 

Providing an update for its customers to explain they may need, the pub explained that the road might be closed at short notice today so that the lorry could be craned into the air.

It said: "A broken down lorry is blocking the road outside Sally's. The nature of the breakdown means the lorry has to be lifted by a crane to be repaired before being recovered.

"This means that the road will be CLOSED at some point of the day for several hours and access to the restaurant will be only be available from Wootton Bassett and NOT J16."

"If you have a booking or are intending on dining with us today, please let the Police at the blockades know and they'll let you through." 

Sally Pussey's manager Ryan Wakelam mentioned that the previous day had affected business and he was expecting more disruption today

"Yesterday was a disaster, people might have attempted to come and given up, and lots of people were late for their bookings. 

"It looks like they're going to need to close the road to get the lorry out of the way, and I've been told they'll be lifting it up with a crane, mechanics will repair the underside while it's in the air and then it will be placed back on the ground and towed away. 

"This isn't confirmed yet, so it's likely they'll need to close the road at short notice if they're going ahead with it, but regardless of what happens we'll be open.

"But, if the road does close our customers might have to go the long way round."