A congestion-busting scheme in Kinver which will reduce the number of parking spaces and remove speed humps will not begin until 2010 at the earliest, highways bosses have revealed.

Residents and traders feared the work would go ahead in 2009 – meaning the High Street would have been dug up three times in three years. But Staffordshire County Council highways bosses today said the scheme would not begin until was January 2010 at the earliest as many details still had to be confirmed.

Current plans are to reduce the number of parking spaces along the street, remove current traffic calming measures and resurface cracked pavements.

It is hoped these measures will help to reduce congestion along the narrow High Street which is packed with cars throughout the day. The scheme was announced earlier this year and residents expected it to begin early next year.

Traders feared it would again dent their profits after roads were closed during the summer for work to upgrade water, gas and electricity services.

Parts of High Street were also closed in 2007 for the village’s drain network to be replaced.

Staffordshire County Council highways spokesman Jeremy Herbert confirmed there were currently no plans to start work on the congestion scheme until 2010.

“We never at any point said the work would be taking place in 2009 so I do not know where that has come from,” he said.

“We have consulted traders and they have told us their quietest period is January and February and this is when we are looking to carry out the work to minimise disruption.

“However there is no way the work could begin in January or February 2009 because this is a major scheme.”