A436 Reopens in Gloucestershire After 110 Storm-Felled Trees Removed

The A436 in Gloucestershire has reopened following the completion of efforts to clear over 100 trees. Storm Darragh, which struck on 7 December, initially brought down approximately 70 trees along the route, leading to a closure of more than two weeks between Notgrove and the A429 at Whiteshoots Hill. Subsequent safety assessments conducted by Gloucestershire County Council determined that an additional 40 trees adjacent to the road required felling, thereby extending the closure beyond initial expectations. The road officially reopened at 15:30 GMT on Monday, with the council expressing thanks to “residents for their patience and understanding” throughout the closure period. On 7 December, a man sustained serious injuries after being struck by a falling tree while walking with his wife. The couple was holidaying in the county at the time of the incident. This occurred while Gloucestershire was primarily under a yellow wind warning, and a red warning had been issued for coastal Somerset. During the storm, wind gusts surpassed 90 miles per hour (144km p/h) in areas surrounding the mouth of the River Severn. Drone footage, captured by BGG Garden & Tree Care Ltd and uploaded to the council’s YouTube channel, illustrated the trees completely obstructing the road and residents’ driveways. A local resident commented that the trees fell “like candles being knocked over.”