The Tenbury floodwaters have receded, most of the shops have re-opened in better state than before last summer’s catastrophe, but eight months on a £250,000 improvement scheme is still awaited by residents.
Kyre Brook during floods
Town mayor Bob Martin said he is continually getting complaints about barriers still on Market Street at the place where the public loos and the pavement fell into the swollen Kyre Brook.
“The old wall fell into the stream along with the toilets and left a load of rubble. This was left there to protect the bank from further erosion,” said Cllr Martin.
“But now we have protective barriers set into the kerb. They look absolutely dreadful, a real eyesore.”
“There’s been a massive clean up in the town. All the drains have now been cleared out and pressure tested. Nearly all of the shops and restaurants are back in business and are better than before.”
Chris Whitehead, proprietor of White’s at the Clockhouse restaurant just yards from the barrier, also described it as an “eyesore”
“It is eight months on now and still nothing has been done. No one exactly knows what is happening or when anything will be done about it. We had a bad enough season last year for obvious reasons and now we have this”
Tenbury’s district councillors Tony Penn and Phillip Grove are also being asked when work will start.
“Traders tell me their main concern is the ugly barrier in Market Street letting the town down,” said Cllr Penn. “We still have not had a start date from the county council.”
Lee Shrimpton, spokes-man for the county council said: “We are keen to get started on this project as soon as possible.
“We’re continuing to discuss the finer points of the work with Tenbury Town Council and also Malvern Hills District Council – who are responsible for the toilets – as well as the Environment Agency as they are responsible for rivers.”
“Another meeting with the Town Council is scheduled for Monday to discuss where we are with finalising a scheme that is estimated to cost around £250,000.”
BY JEAN KINGDON
