£250m transport plan includes cash to repair landslips

A £250m plan to improve Worcestershire's transport network has been revealed - including money to repair two landslips.

Worcestershire County Council has earmarked £5m towards repairing the A449 at British Camp in Malvern, and the B4204 at Rochford, near Tenbury Wells.

Both landslips have caused major problems among traders, some of whom have called for compensation.

Councillor Tom Wells, cabinet member for highways, said: "I know the impact on businesses has been significant."

The money is coming from central government under a transport strategy for the county that is set to be signed off in November.

The Rochford landslip occurred in February, with a diversion in place, while the A449 one dates back to last year and is also causing problems.

Wells said it was "unlikely" that either route would be re-opened by Christmas, calling it a "big civil engineering challenge".

"I want to be honest with people, both of these are not simple projects," he said.

"I can't be drawn on a timescale, but it will be done as quickly as it will be done.

"I absolutely get the frustration this is causing people in terms of daily travel, and I'm particularly concerned about the businesses", he added.

Some businesses in the county said the landslips have had a "terrible" impact on passing trade.

Giles Goodhew, from The Wellington Inn near British Camp, said: "We've got lots of customers who come from that side of the hill, and as time goes on, it (the custom) drifts away more and more.

"It's undoubtedly impacting us. The council should give us some compensation to help keep us going."

Mike Slade, who runs Mike's Sandwich Bar in Tenbury, said: "We've had another summer where roadworks seem to be happening all the time.

"There's been constant traffic lights up."

The wider £250m transport plan is a four-year strategy that the authority has been working on for several months.

It includes improvements to Redditch railway station and upgrades to bus stops, including more CCTV and new digital timetables.

It also means the A4440 Southern Link Road in Worcester could be re-engineered to improve capacity, including the possibility of traffic lights at some islands, as well as new cycling and walking routes across Worcestershire.

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