A MAJOR road linking three key motorways is to close for 18 months as part of an experimental traffic scheme.

Slough Borough Council (SBC) is asking residents and businesses for their views on proposals to close Chequers Bridge in Hollow Hill Lane/Market Lane on August 2. The busy road links Iver and other parts of South Bucks to Langley, Slough and Heathrow Airport, providing a route between the M40, M25 and M4.

SBC is seeking alternative travel as widespread changes are set to be introduced into the area over the next few years – which are likely to impact the road directly – including the relocation of the Heathrow Express (HEx) depot, improvements to Langley railway station ahead of Crossrail services, and the Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH).

Savio DeCruz, head of transport and highways at Slough Borough Council, said: “A lot is happening in the Langley area transport wise, and we want to hear what people think about it and how we can make things better.

“Closing Hollow Hill Lane under an experimental order now will allow us to understand where improvements need to be made to keep traffic moving.”

Councillor Fiza Matloob, commissioner for transport and highways, added: “A lot of the changes coming to Langley will benefit local residents, particularly improvements to the station.

“However, we acknowledge there will be some disruption and so we want to give local people the opportunity to say how they feel about it.” A temporary closure was mooted by Iver Parish Council proactively, as the developments planned would lead to the closure of the road anyway.

Wendy Matthews, parish council chairman, said: “A traffic survey was done and quite frankly we didn’t believe the results that we got. They came and measured in the wrong place.

“It is a major road. According to our count we did on traffic there is 8,000 vehicles a day that use that road. It is not a minor road by any means.

“We suggested that they trial it for about one month but not during the school holidays. I was not expecting 18 months - by that time the HEx depot work would have started.”

Residents who live in Hollow Hill Lane, Mansion Lane and Market Lane will still have access to their homes, and access for cyclists and pedestrians will not be affected.

Councillor Fiza Matloob added: “Further to discussions with residents and ward councillors I have been made aware of a number of concerns about this closure.

"We know we have a number of major national infrastructure projects, both agreed and in the pipeline, that will have a major affect on Langley over the next five years, including some expected road closures during the works.

"By implementing the experimental closure now, we can assess the impact these projects may have on the local network. Crucially, this will give local residents more control and a voice over how we as a council will manage and mitigate the effects of these national projects, which we cannot guarantee without taking these steps.

"Officers from the council will be attending forums and residents’ meetings to discuss the issue and take on board people’s views and I will be chairing a monthly meeting with local ward councillors in order to keep up to date on any issues that may arise and take these up speedily with officers.”

You can have your say by e-mailing SBC at TfS@slough.gov.uk, visiting the Transport for Slough Facebook page www.fa cebook.com/transportforslough, via Twitter @SloughCouncil or by writing to Transport and Highways, Second Floor West, St Martins Place, 51 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 3UF.

The results of the consultation will be shared with South Bucks District and Bucks County Councils.