A rural road which has been "causing issues for years" is set to be closed for 12 months to see if it relieves congestion in a Nottinghamshire village.

Trent Lane, which runs from next to Gunthorpe Bridge to the centre of East Bridgford, is causing congestion in the village, with people using it as a quicker way to avoid traffic on the busy A6097.

A councillor who represents the area says the problem has been getting worse in recent years, and is now "intolerable".

Yesterday (Dec 6), the Conservative-led Nottinghamshire County Council agreed to introduce a one-year traffic order to block the road to through traffic with barriers.

A gate will be installed, and those who need access will be given a key.

Francis Purdue-Horan, the Conservative councillor who represents the Bingham East ward, which includes East Bridgford, welcomed the news.

He said: “It’s been an issue that has been ongoing for many years, with the rat running through East Bridgford causing problems particularly along Main Street which is quite a narrow main arterial route.

“When you have got cars parked on the side of the road it effectively becomes a single track road.

“At the moment the situation is intolerable, with traffic clogging up East Bridgford, and particularly where Kirk Hill, Main Street, Kneeton Road and Trent Lane converge in the centre. It gets completely chaotic at certain times of the day.

“While it will be extremely popular for anyone in East Bridgford, it may be the case that regular users of the rat run who live elsewhere will be less keen on it.

“The advantage of doing it as an experimental order for a year is that we can see what pressure it puts on other areas, and whether we think the scheme works.

“It will force commuters to use the A6097, rather than Trent Lane, but the route will still be open for pedestrians and equestrian use. There will also be a locked gate around 300 metres up to stop any anti-social behaviour or fly tipping."

The decision was taken by the county council's highways committee.

Councillor John Cottee, chairman of the committee who represents the Keyworth ward for the Conservatives, said: “The proposal has come about in response to concerns which have been raised about the volume and speed of traffic using the lane.

“The route is popular with drivers looking to avoid northwest bound queues on the A6097.

"The parish council tells us that increasing numbers of drivers leave the A46 and cut through the village along Butt Lane, Main Street and Trent Lane to get to the A6097 by turning right onto Gunthorpe Bridge - this shortcut avoids the Kirk Hill/A6097 traffic signalled junction and the roundabouts at the A46/A6097.”

The council said traffic surveys show westbound usage of Trent Lane from East Bridgford to the A6097 in the afternoon rush hour has nearly doubled since 2013; resulting in increased turning manoeuvres onto or off the busy A6097.

Councillor Cottee added: “It’s therefore considered that the use of an experimental order to alter traffic movements is the most appropriate course of action so that the effects of the restriction can be properly evaluated.”

A previous proposal to close a one-way section of Trent Lane in an easterly direction proved unfeasible, in part due to concerns raised by the emergency services.

A road safety audit has been carried out for the revised scheme which includes a barrier at the Trent Lane/A6097 Gunthorpe Bridge junction which would physically prevent vehicles turning in or out of the lane. A second barrier will be installed at the eastern end of the restriction, closer to the village.

Access for all motorised traffic onto and along Trent Lane to the eastern closure point will be retained via East Bridgford village centre.