Tenbury Wells traders get bridge closure fighting fund

A £50,000 fighting fund has been secured to support businesses in Tenbury Wells while the town's Teme Bridge is closed. The £1 million repairs will take six months to complete.

The cash has been made available by officials at Malvern Hills District Council and Worcestershire County Council after traders in the town claimed they faced huge losses once the bridge closes.

The people of Tenbury and business owners will get the chance to decide how the cash will be spent at meetings over the next few weeks.

The Teme Bridge is the main route into the town from Shropshire, Mid Wales and the Wyre Forest area of north Worcestershire.

It will be closed from January 9 to all traffic with temporary parking facilities and bus terminals being set up on the north side of the river.

Ideas already suggested for the cash include public banners or paying for adverts in newspapers and magazines.

But Councillor Phil Grove, leader of Malvern Hills District Council and ward member for Tenbury, said the decision would be made by members of Tenbury Area Partnership and Tenbury Chamber of Trade.

Worcestershire County Council is providing £40,000 and MHDC about £10,000.