TRIUMPHANT campaigners are hailing a victory for "common sense" after a controversial proposed traffic-calming scheme for Bewdley was given an emphatic thumbs-down by voters.

The West Midlands' history-making first ever parish poll, forced by 27 residents at the town council's annual meeting, found 80 per cent of residents voting against the scheme.

But mystery surrounds the future of the plan for 53 calming features for streets around Cleobury Road after Worcestershire County Council, which is handling the project, declined to comment on whether it would go ahead in the light of the results.

The project, which would use £223,000 of Government money, is designed to make it safer for pupils of St Anne's first and middle to walk to school.

"We have always thought the consultation process was flawed and this result proves it conclusively. The consultation was phoney," said campaigner Mike Hardiman, of Park Lane.

The scheme was first mooted at the end of 2000 but was shelved following a public outcry at the scale of the proposals last summer.

The county council maintained surveys showed residents were in favour of the new plan, which was approved by a divided working group of councillors, police and residents - but the public's disapproval remains.

Residents are entitled to a parish poll if more than 10 of them demand one on a relevant subject - and this is the first time the power has been exercised in the West Midlands. It is thought to have only been used about a dozen times elsewhere in the country.

Results show people want a much smaller scheme targeted on problem areas close to the schools.

"They said they had consulted fully with the residents, which is hogwash," said Mr Hardiman.

And he insists the result fired a warning to the new Health Concern-dominated town council, which like the previous administration was fully behind the plan.

Mr Hardiman said of the campaign: "We didn't have access to all the flashy stuff politicians have - leaflets were delivered by residents, some of whom stood on the bridge in the pouring rain urging people to vote.

"We have always thought from the outset that common sense would prevail.

"I thought councillors were supposed to reflect the views of the electorate and not impose their own views."

County council project manager Richard Attwood did not want to comment when the Shuttle/Times & News made him aware of the poll result, saying the next step would be a matter for the town council.

Deputy mayor Jeremy Ferguson said he was "emotionally confused" and "disappointed" by the people's verdict on the scheme which he thought a good one.

But he added: "We live in a democracy and I can't be opposed if the people have voted against the scheme."

He said he hoped the county council would take notice of the poll but it remained to be seen whether Government funding would still be available if the scheme was altered.