People power

Residents who have got the hump with a plan which would see 53 calming features installed in streets around Cleobury Road have taken advantage of a power - never previosuly used - to force a town referendum.

And that means townsfolk will be asked to return to the polls less than two months after today's Wyre Forest District Council elections.

The saga over the £223,000 plan has rumbled on for nearly 18 months.

Worcestershire County Council's original plan to harness Government funding to make roads safer for pupils of St Anne's first and middle schools in Wyre Hill was shelved following a public outcry - and now residents, still unhappy with revised proposals, have ensured the issue goes to the electorate.

Twenty-seven, including former mayor Tony Rhoden, turned up at Bewdley Town Council's annual parish meeting on Monday to exercise their right to a parish poll.

If 10 people demand a poll on a relevant issue at the meeting, it has to be held.

The poll - the first in the town's history - will be organised by the district council in the next five to eight weeks and will cost £1,300.

The move has cast doubt on the scheme, which was finally approved by a divided working group of councillors, police and residents in March.

Project manager Richard Attwood admitted he would need to "seek advice" on whether Worcester-shire County Council was obliged to stand by the outcome of the poll should residents vote against the scheme.

But residents' spokesman Tony Hall, who fears townsfolk are unaware of the scheme's potential impact, said: "I would be very surprised if we had a poll result that was ignored."

Mr Hall, of Park Lane, added: "We were pleased to see so many people come to the meeting. It's an issue that has excited a lot of local feeling.

"Obviously we have been contacted primarily by people who are concerned but I am sure there are a lot of people who want the scheme."

The town council has always backed the proposals, which will see 20mph zones with 53 features including 39 humps, nine chicanes and five junction platforms.

Those against the scheme insist they are not averse to the traffic-calming concept but feel the scale of the Bewdley project is unsuitable. Park Lane resident Mike Hardiman insists it is "a complete waste of money".

Work is due to begin in the summer, with traffic regulation orders set to be advertised at the end of this month before a 28-day consultation process.

QUESTION TIME

The questions which will require a 'yes or no' answer are:

Do you want the county council

scheme for Bewdley to proceed

in full?

Would you prefer a smaller

scheme closely targeted on the

schoolchildren's crossing

places on Cleobury Road and

Wyre Hill?

Would you prefer no scheme at

all?

Do you want the county council

to ensure all future traffic-

calming schemes throughout

Bewdley or Wribbenhall are

closely targeted on known

danger points?