FED-UP Studley residents have hit out after another series of sleepless nights caused by overnight closures of the M5 and M40 sending juggernauts thundering through the village.
Locals have longed complained that roadworks on the M5 around Worcester resulting in overnight closures have resulted in lorry drivers choosing to use the A435 through Studley instead of the ‘signed’ route around Bromsgrove.
They have since demanded – and been refused – a voice at a highways meeting on June 9 to discuss the traffic implications of the new Redditch Eastern Gateway industrial development which is expected to put more vehicles on village roads.
The village is already recognised as having areas of poor air quality due to pollution – an issue raised by Prime Minister Theresa May this week when she listed it as the fourth biggest danger to health in the UK.
Nicky Edden, of Studley Traffic Action Group, said: “This week we have had the most dreadful situation overnight. The M5 has been closed again and very obviously our pleas for better signage have gone ignored.
“Adding to this the M40 has also been closed between Warwick and the M42, causing even more traffic overnight.
“How can it be acceptable to these decision-makers that villages along the A435 have to put up with two motorways worth of traffic overnight, when they have already been made aware that one closure causes such misery?”
The ‘official’ diversion is around Bromsgrove but drivers are ignoring it and choosing the A435 instead.
“Personally, I have had about ten hours’ sleep over the last three nights and I am not alone,” said Nicky.
Their case is being championed by Studley county council election candidate Clive Rickhards (Lib Dem) who is in contact with Highways England to demand an explanation.
Other candidates standing in Studley are: Alistair Goddon (Greens), Justin Kerridge (Conservative) and Chris Pilkington (Labour).
