Villagers told to drive 20 miles to get home after roadworks a mile away block road
Shropshire Council say they are investigating after residents in a village near Bridgnorth said they faced a 20-mile diversion after contractors repairing the road, refused them access to their homes.
Villagers in Eardington said roadworks on the B4555 Highley Road just outside the village meant that they were either forced to leave the car on the side of the road, or take a lengthy diversion to get to their homes.
Tracey Farragher who lives in the village, said she had returned home from Bridgnorth on Monday afternoon, only to find the road shut by Daniel's Mill - just over a mile from the village - and blocked by contractors.
"I was coming back from Bridgnorth where I work and the contractor said that I would have to go back down Halfway House Lane to the top and then go 20 miles up the road to the Highley to get back home."
The 58-year-old, who suffers disabilities that affects her walking, said she opted to park the car on the side of the road and walk more than a mile to her door after contractors refused her access to her home.
"I parked up in one of the streets and I had to walk up to my house," she said.
"I wasn't doing a 20-mile around trip just for them. I'm 58 years old, and I've got got problems with my back and hips, so the walk was quite bad. Plus, I then had to go back later to get my car back."
She added that nobody at Shropshire Council had contacted residents to let them know the road would be blocked.
Sam Jennison from the area described the roadworks as "absolutely crazy".
Taking to Facebook to complain, she said: "I've just left my car in one of the streets and walked home. I could not face a 20-mile diversion.
"I would have been prepared and stayed in town, had I known there was this road closure."
The roadworks were eventually cleared on Monday evening.
Graham Downes, Highways Maintenance Manager at Shropshire Council said the authority would be investigating.
He said: "We have not been made aware of any issues at this site, but our contractors who were undertaking the carriageway repairs on the section of B4555, will happily investigate if there are or were any specific problems.
"Each site has designated staff ‘gatemen’ appointed to deal with the travelling public, these operatives are trained and are customer focussed, they will accommodate local residents' requests to access their properties that are situated within the extents of the work area.
"Residents who live outside the extents of the work zone, unfortunately, are encouraged to use the diversion route."