Anger at lack of information of closure of major Worcester road

Joseph Potter's daughter Karen Pearce, who lives just over two miles away, is now having to make a daily 20-mile round trip to see her father in Park Heath.

His carer lives in Whittington and faces a similar detour while Mrs Pearce is also worried the chemist will not be able to deliver her father's medication.

Mr Potter must also pay for the extra 20 miles when he goes out on his three weekly trips with his carer because of the road closure on Main Road, Hallow.

Mrs Pearce, who lives in Lechmere Crescent, said she was "disgusted" at the disregard for people living in the retirement housing.

She is now having to deliver him cold food as she is forced to park near Worcester Cycle Centre and walk the one and a half miles to her father's house.

"If my Dad had received a letter then we at least would have had time to prepare, find routes.

"It’s ridiculous as this is the main Tenbury road and is always very busy now I have no idea if the chemist will be able to get through with my dad's medication.

"He and the other residents had no notification of this closure and I believe they should have done.

"His carer lives in Whittington so the detour she has to make is horrendous."

Roadworks to fix a sewer pipe to the new Piper Homes housing development started on Thursday and are due to end on Wednesday, September 1.

Diversions are along the A449 and across Holt Bridge or through Wichenford.

Dave Bradley, managing director at Piper Homes, said: “We are very sorry for any disruption caused to businesses in and around Hallow while mandatory drainage works take place on the A443 this summer.

“We are always keen to minimise the impact of our construction work on local communities.

"Unfortunately, in this case, leaving a portion of the road open during the very deep drainage works was not an option due to the safety risks it would pose to motorists and pedestrians.

"However, we have ensured the works coincide with the school holidays when the main road through Hallow is expected to be quieter."

He said that signs were placed near the development on July 8 warning of the proposed works and a contractor delivered 40 letters to those directly affected on the A443, Brownes way and Ladygo Lane.

Mrs Pearce said the developer should have also ensured that care homes and retirement homes nearby were also informed. 

Mike Baldwin from Ladygo Stores and Sadie and Nick Wilczynski from Main Road Motor Company both said they had not been told about the closure.

READ MORE: Used car garage could lose £.5m turnover during Hallow closure

READ MORE: 'Absolute chaos' as main route through Worcester closes

Mr Potter had a fall during the first lockdown and Mrs Pearce and the carer have found his weekly trips out to Beanies in St John's, Aldi and The Range have helped to rehabilitate him.

"Thursday morning we were all turned back but there were no diversion signs to direct you down into St John’s and Worcester or Malvern town from that side of the closure.

"I'm disgusted to be honest at the home builders' blatant disregard for the established residents in the area.

"His carer tries to get him out three times because he was failing before our eyes and it stimulates him to go out, he's improved so much and we don't want to interrupt that.

"It's just so frustrating when we've worked so hard."