LOCALS have shared their frustration after it was revealed that the A449 closure would be extended into the summer.
The closure near British Camp was initially put in place on September 8, 2025 for repairs to a retaining wall and the road was due to reopen in April.
In March, a new landslip meant that Worcestershire County Council had to extend the closure and earlier this month, the authority confirmed that ground investigation would start in early June.
It is expected to last six to eight weeks, with the road closure to be in place until at least mid-July.
READ MORE: A449 closure near Malvern extended into the summer
A council spokesperson said: “Following engineering assessment, detailed Ground Investigation (GI) is set to start in early June and is expected to last up to six to eight weeks.
“The road closure has been extended to reflect this and will continue to be reviewed.
“Once the ground investigation is complete and the results analysed by our engineering advisors, we will be in a better position to decide further actions.
“We will continue to share key updates for this scheme on our dedicated webpage.”
Readers of the Malvern Gazette, Ledbury Reporter and Worcester News have reacted to the announcement, questioning why the work is taking so long.
“Now a mythical landslide is the excuse,” wrote Graham Pennington. “Don’t they survey the area as part of closure?”
Jimmy Wise said: “It’s just a joke.”
“Words fail me,” said Lesley Elizabeth Dobinson.
The announcement comes after it was revealed that pothole claims made to Herefordshire Council about nearby Jubilee Drive, which many are using as an unofficial diversion, had jumped by six times since the closure came into force.
From September 8, 2025 to March 31, 2026, there were 12 pothole claims, compared to just two in the previous like period.
“Absolute madness, Jubliee Drive will be closed off at the rate the way the road is disintegrating,” said Tom Bennett.
Herefordshire Council said the road woul be included in this year’s resurfacing programme but previously stated it would wait until the A449 had reopened.
