HOSTILITY to plans for new access road to the M50 at Sledge Green was voiced by around 160 residents.

A straw poll at a public meeting at Birtsmorton Court on Tuesday night (May 6) found an overwhelming majority against the proposal. Just three voted in favour.

Senior Worcestershire County Council highways officers Paul Jameson and Paul Seddon joined Powick councillor Tom Wells, who chaired the meeting.

Last year, the council failed in a bid for £1.25 million of Government funding to link the M50 with the A438 at Sledge Green, to help ensure Upton is not cut off by flooding.

However, the council is still conducting a feasibility study into the scheme, along with assessing two other anti-flood projects. These are raising the A4104 in Upton and improvements to the Worcester ring road.

One theory put forward at the meeting was that a new M50 access would lead to new houses and other buildings in the area. Another, which won applause, was that a spur from the M5 and a river crossing at the Rhydd, near Malvern, would solve the problems of flooding and access at a stroke. However, Mr Jameson estimated the cost of such a project would be prohibitive, at around £30 million.

Concerns were raised about the traffic that would be generated on country roads as a result of a new M5 junction and that easy motorway access could attract criminals to the area. Many voiced support for the alternative scheme at Upton, with one local resident pointing out that the number of times the town was cut off by flooding was negligible.

Mr Jameson promised to report opposition to the M50 scheme to the council. Coun Wells also urged people to express their opinions in writing to Alwyn Davies, council cabinet member with responsibility for the M50 project.

Public exhibitions showing designs for the M50 junction and raising of the A4104, together with traffic flow models, will take place between 2pm and 8pm on May 21 at Birtsmorton Court and May 22 at Upton Memorial Hall.