MOTORISTS face miles of diversions with the closure of Ledbury's link with the M50 for a £750,000 programme of roadworks.

The A417 will be closed from the M50 (Junction 2) to Albright Lane, Bromsberrow Heath, from November 14-27, cutting Ledbury off from its main motorway link east and to the M5.

The roadworks will be carried out by Gloucestershire County Council and follow a survey of the road, which revealed the need for urgent strengthening.

The A417 from Junction 2 to Malvern Road/Straight Lane at Staunton and Corse will be closed from November 28 to December 23.

The council says closure is preferred to traffic lights as the road is too narrow to allow for a safety corridor to protect workmen.

Council spokesman Graham Twarog said the road would be shut to traffic between 7am and 7pm, but added: "Access to both local businesses and residents will be available at all times."

That means the council will rely on the good faith of drivers to follow lengthy diversions.

Because of this promise, Brian Lewis, the concerned owner of Staunton Garden Centre, has launched a campaign with the slogan "all you'll have to do is just drive through".

He said that, with signs as far away as Over near Gloucester, announcing the closure, customers were already taking massive and unnecessary detours, often through Newent, to get to his centre last weekend.

He said: "We've pulled the stops out for Christmas, with late shopping and mulled wine on November 25 and Father Christmas coming on December 7. The road works could be a potential disaster for us."

The M50 junction itself will not be closed during the work, only the roads leading to it.

The council has come up with two diversion routes for Ledbury commuters. The first asks motorists to travel down the A449 through Much Marcle to Junction 4 of the M50 and then travel in an easterly direction to Junction 2, if required.

The second asks commuters to go on the A449 towards Malvern, then turn right onto the A438 to Eastnor. They can then pick up the B4211 at Long Green, which hits the A417 south of Staunton, allowing drivers to approach Junction 2 from the south.

Both routes are big diversions. Mr Miller said: "These routes may seem longer than is necessary, but they have been chosen because they must be capable of accommodating HGVs."

One business not affected is Parkway Garage, which is up for sale. Staff were given notice this week. The shop will close on Monday at 6pm. Workshops will stay open until Christmas or New Year