A LANE blockage at Ledbury railway bridge on Monday raised further fears among Wellington Heath residents that a proposed new access off the Bromyard Road will cause traffic chaos.

The narrow road under the bridge is the entrance and exit to the Bromyard Road and developer Bloor is proposing 625 new homes off the Bromyard Road, with a single public access and egress off a new roundabout.

In recent months, Wellington Heath parishioners have raised fears about the routes to their village being used as rat runs, by motorists avoiding Bromyard Road bottlenecks, when the new estate is built.

They are calling for a second access point to the new estate, ideally under the viaduct.

On Monday, the parishioners' worst fears seemed realised when police were called to the railway bridge, as a piece of metal, which turned out to be the low bridge sign, was seen hanging down from the structure.

Wellington Heath resident Simon Porter said: “I went down to post a letter at about 3.45pm on Monday. The bridge had a piece of metal hanging down, and a Network Rail van and police car were blocking one lane under the bridge.

"Traffic was being controlled by two police officers, and there was a line of cars and vans back to between Watsons and the fruit factory. Vehicles were turning round and I assume using Rhea Lane as a rat run."

Mr Porter added: "Bear in mind it was not yet rush hour; no school runs and with most of the population on holiday. The nub of the whole situation is that there is no reason other than cost why a second entrance should not be made under the viaduct. It could be limited to cars and light vans by a low barrier."

Mr Porter believes that, under present plans, the situation can only get worse.

Mr Porter said: "When the estate is fully built it will mean an extra 3,500/ 4,000 traffic movements a day – all under that bridge.Traffic will endeavour to avoid the town with the resultant effect on trade."

Wellington Heath resident, Peter Constantine, chairman of the village's Neighbourhood Development Plan team said: "The issue that Wellington Heath parishioners would very much like publicised is that if the viaduct estate development goes the way Bloor Homes propose with one access from the Bromyard Road, the bridge junction will become a bottleneck on an ordinary day, and any accident will cause chaos and even more rat-running through local lanes."

The disruption at the bridge on Monday lasted for around one hour, from around 3.45pm to 4.45pm.

Wellington Heath parish councillor David Williams said: "All I can say so far is that I drove in from Hereford at 4.45 pm and the bridge route was blocked; but by the time I’d dropped a passenger off in Newbury Park the route was fully open. Network rail appeared to be checking/securing the 14’6” warning sign."

The Ledbury Reporter was phoned by a concerned resident at 4.30pm but, by the time a reporter arrived in the scene with a camera, about 20 minutes later, traffic was flowing normally under the bridge.

A period of public consultation concerning the proposed new estate comes to an end on August 11.

The application reference is P171532/0, and comments should go directly to the Herefordshire Council planning officer at: rclose@herefordshire.gov.uk