Filming for a new Harry Potter series has caused a traffic collapse for residents of the British village of Latimer, forcing people to take long detours, infohub.kz reports.
The second season of the HBO series (the famous American cable and satellite television network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and known for popular shows — editor's note) is being filmed in Latimer, located in the English county of Buckinghamshire.
Due to road closures, some locals were forced to take an 11-mile (nearly 18 km — editor's note) detour, adding more than 20 minutes to their journeys.
The restrictions lasted three days. On Tuesday from 7:00 to 19:00, access was limited to emergency services only, while on Monday and Wednesday residents with permits were allowed to pass.
One Latimer resident said that even a short trip to the optician took her 25 minutes.
"We've had various productions filmed here — and everything was fine. I think Warner Bros went too far. Village life practically came to a standstill. Even footpaths were closed," she said.
Buckinghamshire County Council, in turn, said the filming brings economic benefits to the local community. Deputy council leader Thomas Broom noted that the temporary road closure was agreed after consultations and an assessment.
"The closure was approved so that filming could take place safely. Diversion routes will be in place to maintain access for residents, and all concerns raised were considered during the assessment," he said.
By the way, the first HBO series based on the book "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" is set to premiere on December 25.