Major repair work has been approved for Lyneham Banks, where the fallout after a “catastrophic” landslip has been a “nightmare” for the community.

Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee has voted to allow the reconstruction of the B3069 between Chippenham and Lyneham, which suffered extreme damage following a significant landslip in February 2022.

It dislodged approximately 90m of the carriageway and the route has been closed ever since.

The complex repair plans were brought before the committee on Tuesday, June 4, after a pair of nearby residents objected to the taxpayer funding required to fix the “historically unstable” road.

Councillors were presented with a report detailing the necessary engineering works.

It stated: “On the slope above the road the land is to be regraded, with a pattern of herringbone and counterfort drains to be installed, intended to assist the drainage of the land so that the water table will not so readily affect ground stability.

“The buildings in this site, including that partially completed, are to be demolished and fill removed from the site, as it is understood to be likely that the additional weight on this part of the site contributed to the magnitude of the most recent landslip event.”

Further land drainage will also be set up north of the route and a retaining wall will be constructed to reinforce the lower edge of the road.

Whilst discussing the plans, the committee sought to be assured that reinstating the road was the best solution.

During the meeting, Steve Wilson, head of major highway projects at Wiltshire Council, noted that investigations for alternative solutions had been carried out and that it was the duty of the highway authority to maintain the route.

Engineer Jack Francis described the temporary arrangements as “a headache for the local community”, with the road previously seeing around 5,500 vehicles a day.

He said: “Getting this road reopened is a key priority for the local community and for Wiltshire Council due to its strategic importance.”

Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall confirmed it had been a “nightmare” for affected residents.

She said: “It has been a fascinating, if agonizing, occurrence this, because there has been international interest in the engineering project, even from American universities, and I gather that led to a large number of bidders for the construction, which has been very helpful for us.

“I am thoroughly cheered to read that the highway construction is expected to last for 60 years, and the heavy engineering for 120 years, which will be a vast improvement on the regular maintenance that the previous road required.”

The committee voted unanimously in favour of the plans.