THE 18-mile diversion in place for a three-week closure of a busy New Forest road has been labelled as “ridiculous”.

Hampshire County Council is set to carry out drainage improvement works on a 250ft stretch of Christchurch Road in Ringwood from Saturday, June 9.

Initially the section of the road will be closed off for 16 days, before three night closures from Monday, June 25 for resurfacing works.

While access is restricted, the suggested alternative route takes motorists on a long detour on the B3347, A35, B3073, A338, A31 and B3047.

Ringwood mayor Tim Ward claimed Hampshire Fire Service was not aware of the closure until it was published in the Daily Echo, but a fire service spokesperson dispelled this claim.

Christchurch Road resident Duncan Soden said he was unaware of the closure until last week.

“It is going to have a knock-on effect in the town and make getting to work in the morning more difficult,” Mr Soden said.

“The 18-mile diversion is ridiculous. It is definitely going to cause problems.”

Hampshire County Council has said the essential work requires a full road closure for the safety of the workforce and the travelling public.

Speros Sylivos, who works on one of the industrial estates off Christchurch Road, said he was not happy.

He said: “I think they need to look at it again. Three weeks is a long time and you have to think about access for emergency services.”

Andrew Thomas, of Christchurch Road’s B & B Dairies, said the biggest issues would hit the business during the resurfacing work.

He said: “We need access to the site to distribute overnight. During the drainage work we have been told this will be fine, but are having issues during the night closures. We can put on double runs out for two days, but doing three is a real issue.

“We are being forced into a situation. It is definitely going to have a knock-on effect and it will be worse if we can’t get in during the resurfacing.”

Michael Thierry, county councillor for Ringwood, admitted there would be disruption and said he sympathises with those in the area.

He said the most efficient way to carry out the work was through the road closure and alternatives would only prolong the impact for those in the locality.

“I have told officers we can’t have any delays,” Cllr Thierry said.

“It really has to be works which go uninterrupted from beginning to end.”