MAJOR changes are being made to a fun run in Ludlow that town centre residents had feared would be anything but a laugh.

Under the original plans the Ludlow 10 event on Saturday, July 8 would have left Ludlow town centre cut off for four hours.

But after concerns were raised, big changes are being made that it is claimed no road will be closed for more than two hours.

John Diamond, who lives in Mill Street, said that as things stood people in Ludlow Town Centre would effectively have been trapped in their homes for four hours on a Saturday evening.

“This seems to be totally unacceptable and there had been no consultation that I am aware of, just a leaflet posted through letter-boxes telling us what is happening,” said John Diamond.

“It seems that people who may wish to go out on a Saturday evening would not be able to do so and visitors would not be able to get in either.

“There is also the question of what happens to visitors to Ludlow who use the Market car park. If they do not leave before 6pm will they be trapped in the town all evening?”

Under the controversial proposals, the roads scheduled for closure were Castle Street, High Street, Broad Street, Mill Street, Camp Lane, Dinham, Dinham Bridge, Coronation Avenue, Corve Street and King Street.

However, a series of changes have been made and the race that had been scheduled to start at 7.30pm will be put back 15 minutes giving people longer to get to events on the same evening at Ludlow Assembly Rooms and St Laurence Church.

Corve Street and King Street will not now close until 7.30pm and Mill Street and Camp Lane will only be used at the beginning of the race meaning that Mill Street will reopen within minutes of the start.

Roads will open immediately the last runner has passed and no road should be closed for more than two hours.

The first runners are expected to finish at about 8.25pm and the last about an hour later. Pedestrian access is not affected by the race.

Dermott Hayes, one of the race organisers said that there will be up to 300 runners, many bringing family and friends with them who would be spending money in Ludlow’s shops, pubs and restaurants.

He said that the safety of the runners is paramount and that is why there are road closures.

“We followed all the necessary protocols and advice on safely organising a closed-road event," he said.

"However we learn from each event we organise about how we can improve the future delivery of all Be Endurance events.”

Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North, has been critical of the planning and believes that the original schedule of road closures had been over-kill, resulting in the town centre being ‘ship-wrecked’ on a Saturday evening.

But he now supports the race and says that it will be good for the town.

“Events are an important part of Ludlow’s visitor economy,” said Andy Boddington.

“At present, we are overly reliant on the three main festivals – the spring and autumn food festivals, and the medieval fayre. We need to diversify.

“Fortunately, the Fringe is going from strength to strength. The Green Festival is long established and the May Fair even more so. St Laurence’s has its Summer Arts Festival. We can add to these successes with sporting occasions such as Ludlow10, which will introduce new people to our town and help keep it thriving.”