Stoke Fleming road is now open

The road through Stoke Fleming is now open after exactly a month of diversions. 

The A379 at Stoke Fleming has re-opened this morning, 24 June. It was closed on 24 May after a collapsing wall forced an emergency closure. 

Stoke Fleming Parish Council posted on social media last night, 23 June, saying: "Elliot Construction have removed the remaining sections of the wall and installed a temporary fence. A road sweeper will be cleaning the road in the morning in readiness for Devon Highways to assess the work and hopefully, give the green light for the road to be opened on Friday.

"The Parish Council would like to thank Elliot Construction for their perseverance, speed and willingness to mobilise a team to carry out the necessary work in order for the road to reopen as quickly as possible.

"Undoubtedly, Elliot Construction have put the local communities and businesses of Dartmouth, Stoke Fleming, Strete, Slapton and many other villages and hamlets at the top of their agenda.

"Well done and many thanks Elliot Construction."

After an inspection from Devon Highways, Devon County Council has confirmed that almost 30 metres of privately owned boundary wall running alongside the highway has now been taken down and made safe.

The road has been closed for a month after a five-metre crack appeared in a 16ft high section of the wall – making it a safety risk to road users.

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said: "Emergency work has been carried out to remove the structure and that initial work has now been completed, making it possible to re-open the road.

"The road has been swept and diversion signs are being taken down.

"Designs will now have to be prepared for proposals on the rebuild of the wall."

Photos credit: Stoke Fleming Parish Council