Bewdley Bridge to close for flood prevention works

The bridge will be closed to traffic from 29 August

A bridge serving as a main route into Bewdley is to close to traffic for flood improvement works.

The Worcestershire town has been hit in recent winters by a swollen River Severn pouring in, blighting homes and businesses.

But traders told a public meeting on Thursday they feared closing Bewdley Bridge to traffic would deter visitors.

The structure is to close from 29 August for about two weeks but will stay open to pedestrians.

There are additional road closures planned amid wider works to protect the town from its river.

Work started on Stourport Road on 7 August and is expected to last at least 18 months

Jon May of gift shop Mooch, who was among those at the meeting, said the bridge closure would "impact us greatly".

He said traders supported the work, but decreasing footfall was their main concern.

"We know that in Bewdley when anybody talks about the bridge on social media or traffic congestion, people avoid the town and we don't want them to do that," he said.

He added traffic lights on the bridge this week had already affected passing trade.

However, he said a "great" outcome of the meeting was that Worcestershire's highways department had decided to reverse the flow of traffic towards the town when the main work is carried out.

It is estimated that work could take between 18 and 22 months to complete.

"Hopefully we can still get people into town and we can still fly the flag for Bewdley as being open as normal," Mr May said of revised plans.

Cat Banks, from Bewdley Blooms, said she hoped her business could survive throughout the works

Cat Banks from florist Bewdley Blooms said the two-year project was "not ideal," but she understood that work needed to be completed.

"I have to hope that we get through this and come out the other side, and [can] prove that small businesses can survive," she added.

The works are part of the Environment Agency's (EA) flood risk management scheme, which includes new permanent defences for Beales Corner where temporary barriers have been repeatedly breached.

"This much-needed scheme will help better protect homes and businesses in the town," an EA spokesperson said.

The work started on 7 August, closing Stourport Road to allow for a temporary working platform to be built as well as the establishment of the main construction site.

The road will remain closed when the main work starts.

A new flood wall is being built at Load Street and Kidderminster Road, but due to a water main being located there, the EA said supplier Severn Trent needed to move it.

The town has been hit by flooding in recent years due to the nearby River Severn

As a result, Kidderminster Road at the junction with Load Street will be closed for four weeks from 21 August. Kidderminster Road will also be reduced to one carriageway from October.

Bewdley Bridge will close on 29 August, but pedestrians will still be able to access it, although parts of the pavement will close with diversions in place, the EA said.

An EA spokesperson explained: "Beales Corner is subject to significant flooding from the River Severn and has a long history of flooding, most recently in 2020, 2021 and 2022 when homes and businesses were flooded and the wider community impacted.

"While works are taking place, it is important to us that Bewdley is kept open, and that impacts to businesses and travel are kept to a minimum."