By Jean Kingdon
Twelve months on from the floods that devastated Tenbury Wells and swept its historic public loos into the Kyre Brook, there may at last be some remedial work about to start on Market Street.
But for Civic Society member, former mayor and town councillor Bob Martin, it is altogether too late for this year’s summer tourist season.
“The disappointment and frustration over this prolonged delay has affected practically everybody in the town,” he said.
“Now work is expected to start next month and to be finished within six months – at long last we may be seeing a resolution of this appalling situation.”
But, Cllr Martin, who emphasises that he is speaking as a private individual and not as a town council member, thinks this is very poor compared with Ludlow flood repairs.
“Months ago there were visible signs that work had commenced to replace the bridge that was destroyed by the flood in Ludlow. By September one lane will be open for traffic and completion is expected soon after that.
“Most would agree that the replacement of a bridge is a little more complex than building a wall. This protracted project has without doubt contributed to an assumption by visitors to the town that Tenbury has yet to recover from the floods.
“As Applefest and Mistletoe events draw in visitors they will see us against a background of a construction site fixing damage that they had seen over one year before. They might well wonder what happened in the interval.
Harriett Baldwin, Conservative parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire has welcomed the news repairs to the wall will finally begin in July.
“I have been contacting the county council regularly on Tenbury’s behalf,” said Ms Baldwin.
“It is so frustrating that it has taken so long and that the works will take six months to complete. Tenbury really needs these repairs to recover fully from last year’s floods.
Sanina Kaur, spokesman for the county council, said the work would definitely start this month.
The official response to the delay was: “A lot of detailed investigation work needed to be carried out to ensure the project is delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible with minimum disruption to residents and businesses.”
