A second 18-month closure order has been made for a ford, while the public’s consultation responses are considered.
Rufford Ford, on Rufford Lane, near Ollerton, has been closed since December 2022, on the grounds of public safety.
After an increase in incidents in the area, police advised the council it was creating significant danger.
The ford had also become a hotspot for video-makers to film cars creating huge splashes — or breaking down — as they passed through the water at speed.
During the temporary closure, Nottinghamshire County Council, its highways partner Via East Midlands and Nottinghamshire Police worked to find a way improve safety in the area and develop a longer-term solution — and chose to propose a permanent closure.
Nottinghamshire County Council launched a consultation on its proposal to permanently close Rufford Ford to motor vehicles in February this year, which concluded on March 4.
Now, a second 18-month temporary closure order — the maximum length possible — has been made, to allow the council time to consider the public’s responses to the consultation.
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire County Council said: “The closure has been extended whilst we carefully consider the comments gratefully received during the recent consultation.”
“We are anticipating that we will be in a position to make a final decision in the next few months.”
The new order will begin when the current one expires, on June 3.
In the recommendations agreed by the council’s cabinet, motor vehicles would be prohibited from crossing the ford, but access would still remain for pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised modes of transport.
Other options which were considered prior to the permanent closure proposal were improved traffic calming, a flood reduction scheme, traffic signals, building a bridge over the ford and restricting access to only approved vehicles.
