Road misery hits railway
A new round of roadworks at a gateway to Kidderminster is set to create four weeks of traffic misery – and a new blow to the Severn Valley Railway (SVR).
It will be the third time the main road running past Kidderminster SVR station has been dug up in 12 months. The railway fears the worst as Severn Trent Water contractors prepare to move in on Monday for four more weeks.
Kidderminster and Bewdley are the only two of its six stations operating after £2 million damage caused by last month's floods.
Bosses say the roadworks could not have come at a worst time. Traffic will not be allowed to travel down Comberton Hill into town from Comberton Road. It will be allowed to move up from the ring road but there will be traffic lights.
In Decembert the railway demanded compensation from Severn Trent after works on mains in the street affected trade. Negotiations are still ongoing on a settlement. Bosses fear visitors will get lost in any diversion.
Last summer work on the mains saw tailbacks backed up to the ring road from the town centre and along Comberton Road back to Chester Road South.
The original £1 million project to replace 6,000 metres of mains piping was due to end by January but more work was required.
SVR spokesman John Leach said: "It will affect our trade and it can't come at a worst time for us."
Shops along Comberton Hill say their trade was badly affected.
Louise Draper, of party and fancy dress shop Party Boutique, said: "We're really angry that more disruption is on the way." Severn Trent spokeswoman Vicky Phillips said: "We are working now while the local schools are on their summer holidays to minimise the disruption.
"We have designed this work with the local businesses in mind to minimise disruption to them and car parking to local shops will still be available."
