THERE'S never a good time to do major roadworks. Certainly in a tourist area like Ledbury, you wouldn't want disruption during the summer, but surely there must be a better time than in the run-up to Christmas?

That is the prospect which faces businesses like Staunton Garden Centre after Gloucestershire County Council announced that it plans to close stretches on the A417 either side of the M50 junction for nearly a month in all.

Although access to businesses will be open at all times, the road closure signs are already causing confusion and the closures don't begin until November 14.

The council says total closure is preferred to traffic lights because the road is too narrow to protect workmen - such is modern health and safety.

Of course, safety is important but it seems a shame that traffic lights could not have been used to avoid confusion and lengthy diversions.

With Welsh Water planning to dig up half of Ledbury, leaving some streets without water for up to 36 hours, and the National Grid digging a section of its new natural gas pipeline close to Dymock, Redmarley and Staunton, the disruption promises to last well into next year.

IT seems appropriate that one of the first contributions to the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter's new online news forum, which we launched last week, should have been a letter about dogs, although not too many firework displays as yet.

To join this and other debates just register and log on to the free site at http://forums.thisismalvern.co.uk.