Residents of a Lincolnshire village face six months of disruption after breeding badgers forced officials to postpone essential roadworks.
College Road in East Halton, the main route for locals heading north and west, was closed in October over safety concerns.
A 2.5-mile section had sunk by 2cm and risked collapsing due to extensive badger tunnelling beneath the surface.
Drivers must now follow a 36-mile detour, with repairs delayed until July 1 when the animals’ mating season ends.
Breeding badgers forced officials to postpone essential roadworks in a Lincolnshire village
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Councillor Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, condemned the postponement in the strongest terms.
“It is frankly outrageous that protections affecting a handful of badgers during mating season mean six months of total inaction on a failing road,” he said.
The council leader warned that the community faces ongoing danger and the gradual decline of essential services.
He added that agricultural businesses are struggling to operate, while daily life for villagers has been severely disrupted.
College Road in East Halton was closed in October over safety concerns
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A crucial village post office is now at risk of closure, Cllr Waltham added, urging Natural England to take “urgent, pragmatic action” to speed up repairs.
The council tried relocating the badgers by building an alternative sett nearby, but the animals refused to move and returned to their original home beside the road.
Local frustration has been evident. One resident quipped: “Looks like 1-0 to the Badgers.”
Another criticised the timing, saying the road had been deteriorating for years and earlier intervention could have allowed work to start after the previous breeding season.
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Badger populations have roughly doubled since comprehensive legal protections were introduced in 1992
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The village shop has largely closed due to a lack of passing trade, a local resident said.
Badger populations have roughly doubled since comprehensive legal protections were introduced in 1992.
Natural England confirmed it issued the council with a licence on October 13 to complete the work before the breeding season began.
A spokesman said: “In exceptional circumstances, we can grant extensions to licences.
“We will be discussing next steps with North Lincolnshire Council in the new year.”
Following his initial criticism, Cllr Waltham confirmed he had since held discussions with the wildlife body.
“I’m pleased to say I’ve had a very positive and open conversation with Natural England,” he said.
The council leader added that he “very much looks forward to working with them in the new year”.
Britain’s badger breeding season runs from January to June, peaking between January and March.