THERE was misery for motorists as roadworks combined with the holding of a popular flower show caused jam-packed roads.
A Worcestershire councillor has said, in an "ideal world," roadworks would not be clashing with the major events at the Three Counties Showground.
The RHS Malvern Spring Festival began on Thursday, (May 5) and, across the weekend, there is expected to be around 100,000 visitors.
But on Friday morning (May 6) motorists reported long delays, with two-mile queues on the A4440 Temeside Way Westbound from the A38 Bath Road to A449 Malvern Road.
This also led to traffic backing up on Malvern Road.
The delays were blamed on roadworks in the area as well as traffic heading to the Malvern Spring Show at the Three Counties Showground.
Lee Smyth was among those critical of Worcestershire Highways tweeting: "Upton roadworks, Severn Stoke roadworks, Kempsey roadworks, Carrington Bridge (Southern Link) roadworks and the Malvern Show - did anybody at Worcestershire Highways think this may cause a problem?"
Worcestershire County Councillor Tom Wells for Powick said: "Part of the price of having major events in Malvern is queues of traffic which have happened in the past, and are to be expected.
"But obviously, if roadworks are at the same time, that causes additional misery to people going about their daily business.
"In general terms, in an ideal world and where practical, major roadworks should be programmed to avoid the major events at the showground.
"But where practical is key in that. I don't know if it was practical this time with the major projects that have been going on - it may be unavoidable.
"The Southern Link project has been going on for the best part of two years - but we are only seeing the traffic issues now in an acute way because previously we had lockdowns that cancelled the spring show, or events were held with limited numbers."
READ MORE: More traffic on Worcester's A4440
Worcestershire County Council declined to comment.
Worcestershire County councillor Alan Amos, cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transport, was unavailable for comment.
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