SEVERN Trent have been ordered to stop all work on Alders Drive and remove the one way system and cones blocking off access to Far Moor Lane.
The company’s action, to lay new water pipes, caused outrage when it was introduced on Monday (January 8) as it forced drivers into a major diversion along the A435 and cut off the entire Winyates Green estate, where 35 per cent of residents are pensioners, from the Diamond Buses service.
To add insult to injury, having cordoned off the road, locals were astonished to see absolutely no work taking place over three entire days.
Not only that, but the extent of the one-way system set up by Severn Trent, expected to be in place for 11 weeks, was in breach of an agreement with Worcestershire County Council.
As soon as the Redditch Standard heard of the situation we contacted local County Councillor Tom Baker-Price (Con, Arrow Valley East) who immediately acted.
He contacted the highways engineer for Redditch and an inspector was sent out. They found that not only was there no one working on the site, but that two diversion signs were also incorrect.
This, plus the lack of access to Far Moor Lane led the inspector to order the site to be cleared within two hours.
Coun Baker-Price said: ” I want residents to know we are doing all we can to ensure Seven Trent’s important upgrade works causes as little disruption as possible.
“The council has little control over the amount of time these works take but I believe the lack of work shows the amount of time Alders Drive has been closed is excessive.
“Access to Far Moor Lane should have stayed in place for at least two weeks before an alternative was found but Severn Trent brought it forward without telling anyone.
“As soon as I was made aware of this issue the County Council sent out inspectors to ensure the works were legally compliant. This led to inspectors requiring the contractors to clear the site within two hours as there was no work taking place.”
He added the County Council would be meeting with Severn Trent water tomorrow, Thursday, to discuss the works which are due to continue along the Warwick Highway once the work in Alders Drive is completed.
Project manager Gareth Mead, from Severn Trent, said: “We’ve decided to press pause on our work in Alders Drive as it’s having a much greater impact on local traffic than we expected.
“We’ve been listening to local people this week about the one-way system and we know the best thing to do for everyone is to postpone the work so we can review our plans.
“We still need to complete the project to install new water pipes so local customers have a really reliable water supply and we’ll be working with the County Council to agree a new plan that will be put into action very soon.”
