Town in traffic chaos

Many say takings are down by as much as 50 per cent and that Saturday was their "worst day ever". Business is so bad that they have called for help from Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor.

Today he described the town as having become "a no-go area hit by absolute chaos".

He said the road works and resulting traffic problems were "unfair to local people" and that he planned to talk to senior officials with Worcestershire County Council calling for action.

Unexpected closures of Stourport Bridge and temporary traffic lights on several local roads, including Worcester Street island, York Street and Lower Lickhill Road, have caused the problems.

This has led to commuters using every available street as rat-runs to avoid congestion and creating even more problems.

Now traders have questioned why all the repair work by Worcestershire County Council and Severn Trent, which have also involved electricity and telephone services, have all had to be done at the same time.

Dave Glass, from Mr Cleancalls dry cleaners in the High Street, said: "If you live at Areley Kings people cannot get into the town and have to go around by Bewdley and instead of shopping here many people are going to Worcester instead.

"We were told the work could not be done at night because of the nuisance to residents but I think many would prefer the roads freed from traffic during the day instead of the chaos this has all caused."

Councillor Jill Fairbrother-Millis said: "Traders are very upset and want to know why the work has had to be done at the same time.

"Morale is extremely low because every available street around the town that is open to traffic is being used as rat-ru