RESIDENTS are railing against road closures in Wylam after a second route into the village was cut off.

Earlier this month, Holeyn Hall Road – the main route into Wylam village – was closed for sewer works.

A diversion was put in place by Northumberland County Council, taking motorists across Wylam bridge, through Crawcrook and west to the Broomhaugh roundabout.

Many motorists took to Bluebell Lane to access the village from the B6528. But Northumberland County Council has also closed Bluebell Lane for “safety reasons.”

At a meeting of Wylam Parish Council, Coun. Brian Japes said: “The street works manager said he spent half an hour there on Friday and reckoned in that time 100 vehicles were using that road in spite of the road closed signs being up.”

Northumberland County Council issued a notice informing residents that police would now monitor the road closure, which would remain in place until May 12.

But residents have branded the second road closure “ridiculous” with many taking to social media to air their concerns. Some noted that the Horsley road, leading to Ovingham from the A69 was equally narrow.

Yet the road is still used to access the village, with the Go North East X84 bus also diverted to the route.

Resident Viv Smith agreed that Bluebell Lane was unsafe for the volume of traffic using it but added: “Members of my family will have to come around Ovingham to come into the village now. It is extremely inconvenient and the road up from Ovingham to the A69 is no better than Bluebell Lane.”

Resident Melanie Jones Wright commutes to work in Newcastle from Wylam.

She said: “I find the closure of Blue Bell lane puzzling and disappointing. While I can see the need for sewage works to be completed it could have been better planned.

“I was prepared to use Blue Bell Lane as a diversion, but now that option has been denied to residents.

“Signposts for the diversion are difficult to follow, heaven help the emergency services if they are unfamiliar with the area.”