Council U-turns after asking villagers to traverse dangerous ford following roadworks

Works by Severn Trent Water in Strefford, near Craven Arms, were due to start on Tuesday and would have seen the road from the hamlet that connects it to the A49 closed for three days.

Shropshire Council, which authorised the road closure, told residents they could use the road running east of the village to reconnect to the main road while the three days of water main repairs are carried out.

However, the council has since changed its mind and informed Severn Trent it will have to allow residents through the roadworks when they commence. Seven Trent has also announced that the works have now been postponed until the summer.

The alternative route is down a narrow track with a fast-flowing ford across the route.

A relative of one of the residents in Strefford, which has around 12 houses, said most of the villagers are elderly and suffer conditions such as Parkinson's disease and said the decision would have been “catastrophic”.

Amanda Evans, whose mother lives in Strefford, said the route out of the village advised by Shropshire Council represented “a disgraceful disregard for safety”.

She said: “They all rely on their cars as many of the residents of Strefford are elderly, and a lot of them have health conditions, including Parkinson's and heart conditions.

“I was in contact with Shropshire Council to advise them of my concerns about them traversing this ford. This is fast-flowing water. Currently it is around a foot deep.

"You can probably cross it in a 4x4 but not in a normal car and if it rains there would have been a tragedy. A car was washed downstream from the ford around five years ago.”

The AA advises motorists that they should not traverse fords any deeper than four inches.

Ms Evans said she was also concerned about access for emergency service vehicles during the works.

She said: “The road is also very narrow as you approach the ford and the council would not assure me that emergency services will have access from the A49 - instead they seem to expect that ambulances or fire engines should put themselves at risk and traverse the ford if they were needed.

“Residents raised their concerns to be told by the council they would 'see how high the ford is' closer to the works start date."

A spokesperson for Shropshire Council said: "The road closure was required by Severn Trent Water to allow them to complete a water hydrant rebuild.

“Severn Trent will be allowing residents access through the road closure and we have informed residents of this. There will be signage by the road closure and at the ford, as well as people on site to help anyone who should need it.”

The works by Severn Trent Water have since been postponed until the summer.