Motorists use Coombe Valley Road despite closure due to tree

Coombe Valley Road in Preston, Weymouth, has been officially closed since last Wednesday, January 3 between the A353 Littlemoor Road and Allberry Gardens due to fears a tree might fall into the road following storm damage.

Dorset Council issued the closure for more than two weeks due to a "danger to highway users" - erecting signs and barriers at either end of the road to deter traffic.

Reportedly one tree had fallen towards the road, which was removed on Wednesday, but it had destabilised a second nearby tree which needs to be removed.

Despite the closure residents said that the barriers had been moved by the next morning.

Barriers moved to the roadside (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Reportedly an unknown member of the public moved the barrier to allow a single line of traffic through. Shortly after they were removed entirely and discarded to the roadside.

A resident said: "I have to say the council were very quick to come and sort out the first tree.

"First thing Thursday morning someone had moved the barriers so a car could come by, so all the cars could come through and ignore the road closed signs.

"There is no real need now for the road to be closed or the buses to be diverted."

Another resident said: "I think if people put up any signs people should obey them.

"At the moment it just seems like normal."

This road is frequently used as a 'rat run' to and from Dorchester and is a busy school drop-off point for St Andrews Primary School.

Another resident added: "I noticed the buses weren't coming around.

"It was Wednesday that the first tree fell. It was the noise of the lorries there that I noticed that something had happened. They were up there with a great big grabber thing.

"Looking at it now it needs to come down."

The closure signs have been moved to the side of the road (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

A fellow Preston resident said: "If it were that serious it would have been removed by now.  I am curious why it is still open.

"We have a local school and this is like a rat run for Dorchester."

Dorset Council was contacted for comment about motorists ignoring the signs but re-issued its statement on the original road closure.