Four-day closure of A38 for urgent ash tree works
Part of the A38 at Winscombe is to shut for four days while a number of diseased ash trees are cut down.
Last updated 12th Jan 2026
The closure will be in place between Oakridge Lane and Shipham Lane from Monday 12 to Thursday 16 January, with the road blocked in both directions between 09:30 and 15:30 GMT each day.
North Somerset Council says the ash trees along this stretch have deteriorated rapidly, prompting the need for urgent removal.
Councillor Mike Solomon, the authority’s executive member for culture, community services and safety, said they are “working tirelessly to manage ash dieback effects and protect our environment for future generations.”
Ash dieback is a fungal disease, caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, which has killed thousands of ash trees in the UK since first being detected in 2012. With up to 90% of ash trees thought to be at risk and no cure currently available, the condition is significantly altering landscapes across Britain.
Local authorities also have a legal responsibility to make sure trees they manage do not pose a danger.
During the works on the A38, no vehicles will be allowed through in either direction to safeguard both road users and the workforce.
Signed diversion routes will be in operation and drivers are being asked to follow these alternative routes.
In neighbouring Somerset, the county council has recently agreed a £2.2m programme for tree care over the next four years, with the Mendip and Quantock Hills identified as areas badly affected by ash dieback.
Despite the scale of the problem, research published last year suggested some ash trees are beginning to show resistance, raising hopes that parts of the population may be able to withstand the disease in future.