A new date has been set for a public meeting to address the closure of a vital back road into Yeovil which has been shut for more than a year.

Chinnock Hollow, near the A30 between East Chinnock and Odcombe, was shut in February 2021 after a landslip left debris on the route – and it remains closed more than a year on.

District councillors representing the villages around Yeovil were due to stage a public meeting to air residents’ grievances on February 18, but this was cancelled due to the onset of Storm Eunice.

The meeting will now take place on March 25 – though it is not yet clear whether anyone from Somerset County Council’s highways team will be in attendance.

In addition to connecting local villages to the town, Chinnock Hollow serves as a rat run for motorists commuting to the western side of Yeovil who wish to avoid using the A303.

The meeting is being organised by three South Somerset District Council ward members, all of whom sit with the ruling Liberal Democrats – Councillor Nicola Clark (whose Coker ward includes Odcombe), Councillor Mike Hewitson (Hamdon ward) and Councillor Oliver Patrick (whose Parrett ward includes East Chinnock).

Mr Hewitson said: “It was a real shame that we had to cancel our February meeting, but with Storm Eunice rolling in we wanted to be available to support our communities first and foremost.”

Mr Patrick added: “We’re looking forward to finally bringing people together to discuss the Hollow closure, and to share an update with residents.”

The county council pushed back the reopening of the road three times in separate statements last year – and hinted in February that the road may not reopen until the winter of 2022 due to extensive surveys which need to be carried out before any work can begin.

A spokesman stated at the time: “Due to the unstable geological nature of the roadside embankments, we are not in a position to reopen the road until we can ensure the safety of the public.

“We are awaiting further geotechnical analysis of the area which will give us a clearer picture of the stability of the land and what further steps may need to be taken.

“The assessment reports are expected in winter 2022 and this will inform the options moving forward. We will know more once we have a full analysis of the affected area.”

The meeting will take place at Cott Farm Barn in East Chinnock on March 25 at 7pm. All attendees are being asked to bring a mask to wear when seated.