OPPONENTS of plans to build a new M50 junction at Sledge Green are being urged to come to a public meeting on Tues-day (May 6).

The meeting has been called by county councillor Tom Wells to demonstrate the depth of feeling about the scheme.

He says residents who live around the proposed junction are very worried about the plan.

Worcestershire County Council applied last year for £1.25 million from the Government's Local Transport Plan to link the M50 with the A438 at Sledge Green. The aim was to provide an alternative route when Upton is cut off by flooding.

Although the grant application was turned down, the county council is still considering the junction as an option.

However, Coun Wells says it should concentrate on raising the A4104 at Upton above flood level.

He said: "A similar scheme to raise the road at Bransford, by The Fox pub, has just been carried out, so there's no reason why the same cannot be done at Upton.

"I don't think some people in the county council realise how much people in the areas around Birtsmorton, Sledge Green, Berrow and so on are worried about this idea.

"That's why I've invited Richard Wiggington, the council's director of environmental services, to come along and listen to what people have to say."

Coun Wells called the meeting because he felt a previous meeting at Hanley Swan last month was too far away from the affected area.

"There are worries that quiet country lanes in this beautiful part of the Malvern Hills will become rat-runs and be overwhelmed with heavy traffic," he said.

"There are also fears that the junction will become a focus for development, with transport cafs and so on springing up."

The meeting takes place at the conference centre at Birtsmorton Court on Tuesday, May 6, at 7.30pm.