TRADERS along the A449 have blasted the council over an "epidemic of road closures" after learning that the road will be closed for more than five months.
The road is scheduled to close between the A4104 and British Camp Car Park from September 1 to April 24.
Owners of businesses along the route, which connects Malvern and Ledbury, have said the lengthy closure will be "detrimental" to trade.
"We are concerned about the detrimental effect on all our businesses," said Sarah Nicholls, who owns Sally's Place, the café opposite British Camp Car Park.
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"You rely upon passing trade at Christmas and if the weekend is nice."
She said Worcestershire County Council, which has organised the works as part of ongoing repairs to a collapsed wall, has not been forthcoming with information about the closure.
"It's got to be done, the road is in a poor state but we have not been furnished with any information whatsoever."
Giles Goodhew, landlord of The Wellington Inn on the A449 described the length of works as "ridiculous" and blasted the decision to fully close the road as "excessive".
"It's a ridiculous length of time to close a road," he said. "A full closure is excessive. Why can't they have traffic lights?
"A lot of my regulars come from Malvern Wells and Welland.
"They're going to have quite a big diversion and it's going to put them off coming.
"This epidemic of road closures has to stop."
A petition has also been launched, understood to have been created by Daniels Petroleum, which is also on the A449.
It calls on the county council to rethink the works and has amassed more than 850 signatures.
"[The closure] threatens not just our livelihood but also the vitality of many schools, businesses, and local institutions dependent on this crucial link," petition starter Andrew Collier wrote.
"We propose a phased or partial closure strategy, allowing one lane to remain open at all times, or scheduling intensive work during night hours when traffic is lighter."
Worcestershire County Council said the scale of excavations needed means a partial closure is not possible.
A spokesperson said: "We have been committed to keeping the road open throughout the busy summer season to support the local tourist trade and minimise any disruption to events at the Three Counties Showground.
"The forthcoming road closure on the A449 Wells Road is scheduled to begin in September and is essential to accommodate our repair works to a collapsed wall.
"We recognise that there is never an ideal time for such essential work, and we truly appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.
"Due to the scale of the necessary excavations, it is unfortunately not possible to manage the site with traffic lights under a partial closure.
"We aim to complete the repairs as efficiently and safely as possible."
