PLANS to close a major road for six weeks and divert thousands of vehicles have been scrapped after protests.

Part of the busy A338 Ringwood to Salisbury route is about to be rebuilt and resurfaced at a cost of almost £1m.

Villagers objected after it was announced that the section between Downton, Wiltshire, and the Hampshire border would be closed for several weeks.

They complained that 12,000 vehicles a day would be forced to take alternative routes, including narrow roads through the New Forest.

Hampshire County Council’s deputy leader, Roy Perry, predicted that the plans whould have led to six weeks of “traffic hell” for Wellow and Plaitford. among other villages.

Now highway chiefs have announced that the contractors will close only one carriageway at a time.

A Wiltshire County Council spokesman said: “As a result of local concerns about the temporary closure, the council has discussed the scheme with representatives of communities in Wiltshire and Hampshire and has amended the scheme.

“The works to the south of Downton have been amended to reduce the extent of resurfacing required at this stage. This avoids the need for temporary road closure, and temporary traffic signals will be used instead. This will ensure that the road is brought into a good condition but avoids the need for the extensive diversions required with the original scheme.”