Concern as safety work to Tenbury streets faces delays (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Concern as safety work to Tenbury streets faces delays

9:56am Thursday 13th September 2012 in Tenbury Wells By Adrian Kibbler

WORK to improve safety on a stretch of a Tenbury street where two people have been hurt this month is unlikely to be completed until well into next year.

The raising of the roadway in Teme Street and Market Street, along with the laying of new and even pavements and kerbs, will be part of a £500,000 improvement scheme.

It was there that former town councillor Margaret Austin was in collision with a car less than a fortnight ago.

Mrs Austin was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, where her condition was described as serious but stable.

Now out of a critical ward, she remains in hospital recovering from a broken arm, two broken legs and bruised lungs. She also underwent a skin graft operation on her leg.

A week later, a man in his 90s needed hospital treatment after tripping and falling.

County councillor Ken Pollock said he now wanted to see a new pavement as soon as possible.

But the Advertiser can reveal that the work – originally intended for autumn – has been put back by a series of delays.

A drainage scheme to help alleviate flooding will involve the excavation of part of Teme Street and resurfacing work cannot start until this project has been completed.

Following consultation with Seven Trent Water, council engineers will begin designing a scheme that is likely to cost about £100,000.

Work on the town’s new Tesco supermarket on the former cattle market site has also had to be factored in.

“The two projects need to be worked on at the same time so that there are not two lots of disruption and we do not know when Tesco will start,” said Coun Pollock.

Talks between Tesco and Malvern Hills District Council are ongoing to iron out details, including payments by Tesco for community projects, including a new bus service.

Tesco hopes to have the store open by Christmas 2013.