Relief as key route reopens after £1m repairs

Businesses and residents are celebrating as a key route reopens following a £1m bridge repair.

Motorists can once again use Charlton Kings' A40 London Road in Cheltenham after it was closed for urgent repairs in September 2025.

Business owners have said they are relieved the route has reopened as its closure caused a significant drop in footfall due to no passing traffic.

A Gloucestershire County Council spokesperson said the work was "a highly challenging engineering feat" required to save London Road, which reopened a day earlier than expected on Thursday.

Hambrook Bridge, thought to have been designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was initially planned to partly reopen in November, but the damage was worse than initially thought.

A council spokesperson said poor weather during 2024 caused a section of the bridge to collapse, and this revealed underlying problems that required a specialist team to preserve the structure's heritage.

Resident Nigel Chivers said the closure had made it harder to visit his grandchildren in Bourton-on-the-Water.

"It's been closed for that long... it seems like ever since Jesus Christ was born," Chivers said.

"I hope [the council has] done a good job."

During the closure, traffic was diverted and some businesses said they lost trade.

Robert Gruihn from gift shop Scarlet Monkey said he had a quieter Christmas than usual.

"January and February are always poor, but this is worse than ever," he said.

"Takings have been down considerably since the road closed and the locals are avoiding driving because the village is congested."

Sam Heaven, owner of The Hat Shop, said although wedding guests still made an effort to visit, she had seen fewer people coming in to buy hats for the races.

"We've lost our passing trade from Oxford way, the detour has put a lot of people off," Heaven said.

She said she was so relieved the route has reopened she "might throw a party".

"I'm really happy they've managed to do it in time for Cheltenham Festival," she added.

A council spokesperson said they appreciated the impact the closure had on the local community.

"We are grateful for your support and understanding while these essential safety works have been undertaken," they add.

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