COMMUTERS and visitors to the Forest have been hit by widespread roadworks across the area.

The first from the Lydney to Lydbrook direction is on Forest Road, Lydney, and goes up as far as the new Redrow housing estate in Whitrecroft. This is due to reopen on May 18.

The second set of roadworks on the road will be from Parkend to Pygmy Pinetum crossroads, and is due to start this week.

The third set of works is the flood alleviation scheme in Lydbrook, which has closed the main road through the village, and is likely to remain closed until the end of the month.

In practice this means that any drivers wanting to cross the Forest from either north or south has to zig-zag across the alternative roads, which leads to inevitable congestion in Bream, and queues for Lydney High Street that start before the hospital.

Further afield, resurfacing and other works on the M50 will see several closures and diversions in place over the coming months, and which are likely to continue into the summer.

There were problems in Sedbury and Tutshill last week because of the continuing closure of the old Wye bridge into Chepstow.