A COUNCIL chief has denied Worcestershire was steamrollered into accepting draconian road closures across the county for a Birmingham-led bike ride.

We previously reported how 15,000 riders will descend on Worcestershire for Vélo Birmingham, an 100-mile closed roads charity bike ride, this September.

Worcestershire County Council had agreed that roads along 60 plus miles of Worcestershire countryside could be closed for most of the day to allow the race to take place safely.

However, the plan has proved unpopular locally with some people arguing that they will effectively be trapped in their homes and business owners have said they will be unable to open for the day.

In the latest twist, the minutes from a meeting of the Great Witley and Hillhampton Parish Council seem to suggest that Jon Fraser, head of highways at Worcestershire County Council, had told councillors that organisers, CSM, had gone ahead and announced the ride and the route without securing proper agreement from Worcestershire first.

The minutes suggest the council did not know the roads would be closed for up to nine hours and would instead re-open on a 'rolling' basis.

The minutes read: "It was assumed by WCC that a ‘rolling road’ closure would operate to accommodate the 15,000 entrants of all abilities.

"Before any agreement was made, CSM went ahead and launched a website and invited interested cyclists to sign up and pay the entrance fee of £75.

"In principle WCC were happy to make temporary road closures but, again, before any agreement was reached CSM carried out a sporadic leaflet drop and announced the route."

However, Mr Fraser said this was not the case, falling short of saying the minutes were incorrect but saying it was a matter of "emphasis."

He said: "When we agreed in principle we knew it would a full road closure, although we didn't know any more details than that.

"It is the duration that has come out in further discussions, that it would be up to nine hours."

Mr Fraser said it was always the case that the event would need to be announced and tickets sold after Worcestershire County Council had given approval in principle and the detailed agreement worked out later.

He said: "We expected that."

Also contained in the minutes was the suggestion that Mr Fraser had asked parish councillors to support him to refuse the event - but he denied this.

The minutes state: "Jon Fraser on behalf of WCC has requested the support of Great Witley and Hillhampton Parish Council in refusing this event in Worcestershire and we are happy to do this."

However, Mr Fraser said: "What I've said to them is the same as I'm saying to all parish councils that if you know of any specific details or requirements then can I request your support in getting that out there and notified to the organisers."

He added: "We've received a large number of concerns and complaints and these have been passed on to CSM to try and resolve these issues."

Mr Fraser said a further meeting in the middle of June would be held with CSM to find out if issues could be resolved before the road closures were made.