Campaigners are delighted after a solution was found over a landslip-hit road in Weymouth – which prompted fears traffic may have to be diverted.

Part of Old Castle Road is facing collapse due to coastal erosion which would cut off around 94 homes.

There were concerns that traffic would have to be diverted across the Rodwell Trail.

The council previously said it could not shore up the landslip as the land was in private hands and was in the process of being sold.

But following negotiations it has been agreed that the new owner – a private developer – will carry out stabilisation works.

Council money allocated to building an alternative access route will be contributed to this work.

Provided that the project meets no unforeseen difficulties, the stabilisation works for the development, which will support the road, will be carried out during the autumn.

Chairman of Old Castle Road Residents’ Association (OCRRA) Keith Tranter, said: "This is a good result. It shows that difficulties can be overcome if people sit round a table and engage with the problem.

"I would like to thank the new owner, who has approached this with an open mind and a desire to work with the local community, and the officers and councillors, who have been working hard to solve this problem even in the middle of a pandemic.”

Dorset councillor for the area, Clare Sutton, said: "Local residents and groups have been extremely concerned about this and I am delighted that Dorset Council has come up with a pragmatic solution. My greatest concern was the potential impact on children and families living in and around Boleyn Crescent if large volumes of traffic were rerouted and the playground reduced or removed and I’m just so relieved this threat has now gone away."

Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “This is a good outcome for a difficult situation and I’m sure many local residents will feel relieved and reassured that we now have a clear way forward.

“I’d like to thank the Old Castle Road Residents’ Association for the input they have had in this process. I’d also like to thank our Head of Highways Jack Wiltshire for his efforts in getting this situation resolved.”

With the land stabilised, plans to provide alternative access to Old Castle Road across the Rodwell Trail will not be needed.

Last month, Dorset Highways completed work to install a continuous kerb line of 45m to prevent surface water from entering the landslide system.

Council engineers will also continue to carry out regular inspections for signs of cliff retreat, subsidence and tension cracks to identify ongoing movement and risk.

For safety reasons, the road will be closed if there is any sign of collapse observed in the carriageway and alternative emergency access arrangements will be provided for residents.