Stroud drivers face a two-day closure of Stratford Road this weekend while essential tree works and inspections are carried out at Stratford Park.
The road will be closed on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6, from 7am to 6pm on both days. The closure will run between the Tesco roundabout and the roundabout at the entrance to Stratford Park.
Specialist contractors will work on trees overhanging the carriageway and carry out detailed inspections of several significant trees within the park. Stroud District Council said the proposed works had been approved through the planning process and were necessary because the trees are in a conservation area.
How the closure will affect access
The council has scheduled the work for the weekend to reduce disruption to weekday traffic. Motorists are being advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.
Access to Stratford Park, Active Lifestyles Stroud and The Museum in the Park will remain possible during the closure, but visitors will only be able to reach them from the Paganhill direction.
Diversion signs will be in place throughout the closure. Drivers using the route are advised to follow those signs and allow additional time for journeys during the two-day works.
Why the trees are being inspected
Angela Gillingham, Stroud District Council’s head of community services, said regular inspections and maintenance were needed to protect the mature trees and keep park visitors and road users safe.
“Stratford Park is home to some of the finest and most significant mature trees in the district. Regular inspections and maintenance are essential to ensure the long-term health of these trees and the safety of park visitors and road users.”
She added that the council understood the temporary closure could cause disruption and thanked residents and motorists for their patience and understanding.
Stratford Park covers 56 acres and is owned and managed by Stroud District Council. The park contains more than 800 trees, including Cedar of Lebanon, Monkey Puzzle, Wellingtonia and Indian Bean Tree specimens.
The council says the park’s collection is among the finest mature-tree collections in the region and is believed to rival nearby Westonbirt Arboretum. Several trees are thought to have been acquired through a shared order with Westonbirt in the late 1890s.
The works are intended to help protect and preserve the collection for future generations while also maintaining the safety of people visiting the park and travelling along Stratford Road.
