Residents have expressed their relief after plans for a 19-day road closure in Bewdley were cancelled. 

Dowles Road was set to be closed for almost three weeks from September 30 to facilitate utility work on the new housing development. 

There was going to be no access for emergency service vehicles and many residents were faced with a long detour to get into town. 

In a statement today (Friday, September 6), councillor Dan Morehead confirmed the news that an alternative scheme had now been identified for the utility work and the closure had been cancelled. 

Woodlands Park residents spoke out about the impact of the plans Woodlands Park residents spoke out about the impact of the plans (Image: Penny Colebourne)

He said: "I’m delighted to share that following a lot of hard work an alternative scheme has been identified for the utility connections and this scheme does not require any closure to Dowles Road and therefore the closure has been cancelled.

"I’m really pleased to have been able to get this outcome for you all and would like to thank the team at WCC Highways for being so tenacious on our behalf.

"STW have applied for a full closure of Dowles Road from December 2 to 6. Discussions are ongoing still for this one but obviously as it stands a much shorter closure and I can update on that one as we go.

"Thank you all too for your patience in what I know has been a stressful time."

Bewdley residents had voiced "major concerns" over the closure of Dowles Road which could have left some people "trapped" in their own homes. 

Speaking on behalf of Woodlands Park residents, 74-year-old Penny Colebourne said the community was very worried about the closure and she feared for the older residents in the area. 

She said: "I am a healthy 74-year-old but some of my neighbours are in their 90s and I am very concerned about them. It already takes us a five-mile detour to get to our GP but now residents are being faced with a possible 15-mile detour just to see a doctor. 

"I really fear lives will be put at risk." 

A solution to avoid the road closure has been found A solution to avoid the road closure has been found (Image: NQ/Lauren Chaloner)

There were also concerns over bus services being unable to run down the road as well as the extra time it would take for residents to make journeys in the area. 

This includes concerns over the environmental impact as well as fuel costs and the impact on care workers. 

One resident, who is unable to be named, said: "Residents that I have spoken to around Sabrina Drive, Woodthorpe Drive and Riverside thought the plans were absolutely ludicrous. We have a lot of vulnerable people in our community including elderly residents and children with additional needs. 

"The closure could have ended up being a matter of life and death. Ambulances would take longer to reach patients and with more people being diverted down the country roads, it could have led to an accident. When you think about the 'what ifs', it makes the closure even more worrying. 

"I am absolutely delighted that the closure has been cancelled. I really am overwhelmed with relief and I just want to say thank you to the council and those who have worked hard to find a solution. 

"It is quite astonishing how much of an impact this has had on residents and how hard-hitting the closure could have been. It is a fantastic human response to cancel it and many people will be very grateful."