LAST week an unstable tree, located on the cliff top of Wilton Road that posed an immediate risk should it fall, caused Herefordshire Council to close the road.

As part of the local authority’s emergency response a crane was positioned in Wilton Road steadying the tree, while specialists removed the dangerous bough and safely felled the tree to the ground.

The works closed the B4260 road for a number of hours, between both entrances to Wye Street, with light vehicles being able to use the diversion, which was not suitable for heavy goods vehicles.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “The council has worked to remove an unstable cliff-top tree overhanging Wilton Road in Ross. Following an inspection, our team determined that the tree posed an immediate risk due to a large limb splitting over the rockface, making it unsafe for our team to access it from the Prospect side.

“Due to the nature of the damage and the potential danger to the public, an emergency road closure was deemed necessary to safely remove the tree using a crane. We are grateful for the patience of the local community during this disruption.”

The spokesman then updated the situation over the temporary barriers along the base of the Wilton Road rockface and said: “As part of the design process intrusive trial pit investigations are being conducted at several locations along the base of the cliff to analyse the type of material and gather samples.

“These investigations are crucial to inform future work aimed at preventing rockfalls and ensuring long-term stability.

“Updates on this will be communicated once the results are available and a course of action is determined. We are committed to ensuring the safety of the community and will continue to provide updates as this project progresses.”

Balfour Beatty has been tasked with carrying out these investigations around the base of the rock face. These works will take place between Sunday, October 27 to Tuesday October 29 and will necessitate that the road will be closed between 8am and 5pm each day.

The signed diversion route will be via Wilton Road / A40 / B4234 Ledbury Road / Greytree Road / Trenchard Street / High Street and vice versa.

Cllr Louis Stark told Ross Town Council at Monday’s meeting that whatever is put in place of the barriers along Wilton Road that it should blend in with the rock face and suggested that it be built of similar stone.