A DANGEROUS ford, which claimed the life of a man in 2012, is being permanently closed to traffic.

Following a public consultation held in July, Hampshire County Council and West Berkshire District Council have jointly agreed to close Headley Ford following the fatal accident.

Jonathan Gammon, a mental health tribunal judge, died in the ford on April 30, 2012, when he was a passenger in a car that was swept 200 yards downstream by the River Enborn.

The 52-year-old, from Teddington, Middlesex, died with his dog, but his wife, Pricilla Turner, managed to swim clear.

Following his death, Hampshire County Council closed the ford for 18 months because it was considered a “danger to the public”. But, as reported in The Gazette, many motorists ignored the closure signs and continued to drive through the ford.

Now, a decision has been made to permanently close the access route for 1,350 metres on the C111, from Thornford Road between its junction with Ashford Hill Road and its junction with Thornford Road.

A statement on West Berkshire District Council’s website, said the closure was initially proposed because: “At times of high rainfall, the depth of the ford is unsuitable for general traffic and there has been a tragic fatal accident involving a vehicle through the ford.”

No objections were received during the con-sultation, and signs are due to be installed in December.

Asked how the council will enforce the closure, Councillor Seán Woodward, executive member for economy, transport and environment at Hampshire County Council, said: “We anticipate that the signs indicating the traffic regulation order, coupled with additional depth gauges installed in the ford will be sufficient to deter motorists from risking their own safety by contravening the order.

“Now that the order is confirmed, it would be unlawful to break it and so would be a matter for police enforcement.

“However, our objective here, as always, is to implement sensible traffic management measures which drivers respect.

“Additionally, we will advise satellite navigation providers of the restriction, which will prevent motorists using devices with updated mapping from being routed through the ford.”