AN official order to close roads in Worcestershire for a contentious cycling event has been invoked.
The road closures will cover around 40 miles of Worcestershire countryside including through Stourport, Chaddesley Corbett, Great Witley, Holt Heath, Ombersley, Droitwich, Dodderhill and Upton Warren.
Worcestershire County Council says it is necessary to ensure the safety of the 15,000 cyclists expected to take part in the Velo Birmingham as well as the public as the major sporting event passes through.
However, there have been many complaints about the draconian nature of the road closures with many roads closed for large parts of the day on Sunday, September 24.
People had said they would be trapped in their homes and those running pubs, restaurants and wedding venues along the roads said they would have no choice but to close for the day.
Church services were under threat of cancellation and some people raised worries about access by emergency services or medical help.
Despite concerns, the council has said there is no process for objecting to the order making the road closures.
In a statement, it said: "There is no statutory process for objecting to the proposed Order.
"The event organisers CSM have already undertaken widespread public engagement and resolved or mitigated many potential problems and accordingly the County Council intends to make the proposed road closures to support the major event."
People have been told to raise any specific issues that need resolving with the county council by Monday, August 14.
The statement continues: "It recognises that this will cause disruption and the county council wishes to take into account and seek to mitigate as far as practicable particular problems the event may cause. "Specific issues not yet raised should be advised as soon as possible in writing to us at nrswa@worcestershire.gov.uk and copied to CSM e-mail route@velobirmingham.com"
Final decisions on the details of the event and on the proposed order making the road closures will be made after August 14.
There are exemptions to the restrictions for emergency services, authorised event officials, safety officials to access the closed roads as necessary and to enable pedestrian access to homes and businesses.
More details of the affected roads can be found at http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/directory/34/public_notices_directory
The road closure is an Order under Section 16A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
List of closures
Closed 7.30am to 2.30pm
Stourport/ Dunley
A451 Dunley Road - From B4194 Ribbesford Road to Malvern Hills District Boundary
Closed 9am to 5.15pm
Chaddesley Corbett Parish
C2059 Woodcote Lane - A448 Kidderminster Road (Bromsgrove district) to Dordale Road (Bromsgrove district)
Closed 7.30am to 2.30pm
Dunley/Great Witley
A451 Dunley Road - From Wyre Forest District boundary to Stourport Road
A451 Stourport Road - From Dunley Road to B4197 Gt Witley
B4197 (Redmarley) - From Stourport Road to Worcester Road
Closed 8am to 3.30pm
Great Witley, Little Witley, Holt Heath
A443 Worcester Road - From B4197 Gt Witley to A4133 Holt Heath
A4133 Holt Heath - From A443 Holt Heath to Wychavon District boundary (Holt Fleet bridge)
Holt Fleet/Ombersley/Droitwich
A4133 Holt Fleet - From Malvern Hills District boundary (Holt Fleet bridge) to A4133 Ombersley Cross Roads roundabout
A4133 Ombersley Cross Roads roundabout
A4133 Ombersley - From Ombersley Cross Roads roundabout to High Park roundabout junction with A38
A4133 High Park roundabout
C2254 Ombersley Way - From High Park roundabout to Ombersley Way/ Ledwych Rd roundabout
C2254 Ombersley Way/ Ledwych Rd roundabout
C2255 Salwarpe Road - From Ombersley Way/ Ledwych Rd roundabout to Kidderminster Rd roundabout
C2255 Kidderminster Rd roundabout
U41701 Kidderminster Road - From Kidderminster Rd roundabout to Vines Lane
U41701 Vines Lane - From Kidderminster Road to Bromsgrove Road
U41702 Vines Lane Service Road - Vines Lane
B4065 Bromsgrove Road - From Vines Lane to Crutch Lane
U41774 Crutch Lane - From Bromsgrove Road to Dodderhill Road
C2082 Dodderhill Road - From Crutch Lane to Bays Meadow
Closed 8.30am to 4.30pm
Dodderhill/Hampton Lovett parish/Elmbridge/Upton Warren
C2082 Crutch Lane - From Bays Meadow to Elmbridge Lane
C2083 Crutch Lane - From Elmbridge Lane to Crown Lane
C2083 Crutch Lane - From Crown Lane to Swan Lane
C2084 Berry Lane - From Swan Lane to A448 Kidderminster Road (Bromsgrove District boundary)
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