UPTON traders are appealing for compensation for loss of trade suffered as a result of traffic restrictions on the Upton bridge.

Traders have seen their businesses suffer since traffic restrictions were put in place earlier this year when the viaduct was found to be unsafe.

At a public meeting at the Memorial Hall last week, Rick Price, landlord of The Star, criticised Worcestershire County Council for taking too long to sort out work on the crumbling structure.

"My business and lots of other businesses in the town have lost so much trade. If the council have got the money, why couldn't work have started months ago?" said Mr Price.

Mr Price said he thought the council should have made the bridge and viaduct a top priority and suspended other road and building work to get on with it.

West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer said he understood the frustration of businesses in Upton whose trade had been badly affected.

"Compensation for business loss is a difficult area and I don't want to give people false hopes. But I'm doing my best to find out which offices and departments at Whitehall might be able to help," he said.

County council highways spokesman Paul Jameson said work on the viaduct couldn't have started any sooner.

"We've worked to get things moving as quickly as possible. Three months is actually quite a short time span to get cabinet approval for spending, design a new viaduct, find contractors and move the caravan park," he said.

Most residents at the public meeting were pleased to hear that work on the diversion road has now begun and is scheduled for completion on July 30.

At this stage traffic will be diverted from the old viaduct onto the temporary route through the caravan park and the existing viaduct will be demolished and then rebuilt. The temporary road will take two-way traffic, including HGVs.

The £2.5 million cost is being met by the county council but the council is lobbying for funding from central government.

"It's a huge amount of money for local people to find so I'm waging a battle with Whitehall to get the funding," said Sir Michael.