A GROUNDBREAKING ceremony has been held to mark the start of Severn Trent's work in Stourport for the £300m Birmingham Resilience Project.

Stourport's Mayor, Councillor Ken Henderson, was on hand to put the first spade in the ground in Lickhill on Tuesday (March 7).

Carol Bloor, from Severn Trent, said: "We need to make sure our customers across the region continue to get a reliable water supply.

"As part of the project, Severn Trent will be building a new water intake and pumping station near Lickhill, and laying a new water pipeline for 25km from there to Frankley, in Birmingham.

"Although the project's main aim is to make water supplies for Birmingham more resilient, it will have benefits for our customers right across our region, and in Stourport where the project team are based and a lot of work is taking place.

"When work begins we will do all we can to help reduce any impact of our work and we would like to ask the local community for their patience until the new pipes are in place."

Cllr Henderson, who had a tour of the project compound in Lickhill, added: "I did not realise just how big this project is and how much work is going into delivering it.

"I am amazed by the work and the commitment of the team.

"I am really pleased with the way Severn Trent and their contract partner, Barhale, are engaging and working with the people of Stourport to listen and understand the best way to minimise any disruption to our town."

*Meanwhile, Stourport Health Concern councillor Nicky Martin urged motorists to stay patient during the current road works being carried out in the town on behalf of Severn Trent.

Temporary traffic lights are in operation at Windermere Way/Minster Road causing congestion - with Councillor Martin herself having to take more than an hour to travel a short distance on Monday night.

But she added some drivers trying to sneak through as the lights turned to red was adding to the delays.

She said: "I spoke to the project manager to ask why the lights were taking so long to turn from red. But he explained that people going through on red was causing a technical problem that sent the lights out of sync and causing delays for everyone else.

"I completely understand the frustration people have but would ask for people not to go through when the lights are red so that we can all go home as soon as possible."