MOTORISTS in a Worcester neighbourhood faced with a year of road closures are being offered special passes to enable them to park near their homes.

Last week, your Worcester News reported how Arboretum residents were concerned about the impact a year-long programme of drainage works by Severn Trent Water would have on parking, which they say is already a problem.

Residents already have to contend with shoppers and commuters working in the city centre parking outside their homes and many said the works will make matters worse.

Now, the company has arranged a programme delivering residents-only parking stickers to residents on roads set to be closed.

Seven Trent Water’s programme manager Jonathan Tait said the scheme had been developed following a public meeting held by the company on July 30.

“We understood that parking would be a concern for residents in the area, so we have taken this feedback on board and acted, working with Worcestershire County Council to organise residents’ parking stickers, which will be delivered by our team in person before work begins on a street,” he said.

“The improvements to the water pipes are being carried out because there have been 24 bursts within the last three years, which have affected the Arboretum Road area of Worcester.”

He said the work was vital in preventing further supply problems.

Although the stickers are not parking permits, they allow contractors to identify residents so they are able to move freely on and off their streets.

Last week Worcestershire County Council told your Worcester News it would not be introducing a residents-only parking scheme as it would take up to six months to put into place.

Since then, the first stage of the work has begun at Lower Chestnut Street - which will be closed until Friday, August 30 – and Back Lane North – which is shut until Friday, September 27.

A system has been agreed between the city council and Severn Trent so bin collections can continue.

For full details of road closures across the county visit worcestershire.gov.uk.