ORGANISERS of Three Shires Stages road rally have pledged that no residents will end up “imprisoned” in their homes during the event on Sunday.

The rally, organised by Cheltenham Motor Club, will see 140 cars racing on 66 miles of closed roads in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. The routes of the five circuits were publicly announced this week.

Jeff Wheeler, organiser and resident liaison officer, said everybody affected by the rally had been contacted and given detailed information. “They have all got residents handbooks and the ones that are on the stages get vehicle passes as well — they certainly will not be imprisoned all day.

“We have been working on organising this for at least 18 months, in fact since the first event in 2019 really. It is an awful lot of organisation goes into it — much more than people realise.

“We learned a lot from the first event in 2019. It was a great success, so here we are again. We just don’t want too much rain on the day.”

One of the circuits passes close to Wellington Heath. Villager Peter Constantine said: “I know that the organisers have visited all the affected parish councils to explain. I understand that they have visited all residents affected. The village can get in and out and there will be marshals as I understand it.”

The rally, sponsored by Hills Ford, is based at the Three Counties Showground and will be publicly launched with an event in Ledbury High Street from 5.30pm tomorrow (Saturday). The road will be closed from the Cross to the Clock Town until 10.30pm to enable competing cars to line up in front of The Feathers Hotel before passing a start ramp.

People wishing to watch the action on Sunday can book places at one of three spectator areas. These are at Gospel Oak, near Newent Golf Course, Eldersfield and Clenchers Mill, Bromsberrow.

Full details of road closures and spectator areas, including a map, are available on the event’s website at threeshiresstages.co.uk.

Full list of road closures

Gloucestershire

West of Newent:

Oxenhall Lane

Holders Lane

Kempley Road from B4221 to Shaw Common

Road between B4215 (opposite Three Choirs Vineyard) and Holders Lane.

Road between Shaw Common and Holders Lane

Please note Coldharbour Lane is open but has a one way system operating in direction from B4215.

Hartpury & Upleadon

Blackwells End

Stream Lane

Middletown Lane

Hooks Lane

Forge Lane

Gloucester Road

Oridge Street from Forge Lane to Blackwells End

Golden Valley

Forge Lane

Bromesberrow

Albright Lane

Chase End Road

Clenchers Mill Lane

Black Lane (Berrow)

Worcestershire

Eldersfield

B4208 between Staunton and Pendock

Road between B4208 and Church Lane

Moorend Road

Church Lane

Also Mill Lane (Staunton and Redmarley)

Herefordshire

Ledbury Town Centre on Saturday 5.30-10.30pm

Also on Sunday

Knapp Lane between Ledbury and A449

Road from Petty France to Coddington Cross

Road from Petty France to Bradlow

Road from Petty France to Wellington Heath

Raycombe Lane