SO that’s it then? The countdown is on, according to the electric signs reminding us how many days to go to Gilgal closure in Stourport.

Yet again Stourport will be split in two for weeks, giving us major detours, adding to climate change and emptying our pockets of money to pay for the extra petrol.

The arguments have been made, the petition signed (could someone please tell me where the petition went and who it was handed to?). But all to no avail.

Nobody listened, as usual. Just saying sorry for the inconvenience doesn’t make it right.

I have been trying to think of alternatives to the closure, such as making Mitton Street two-way, with a 20mph speed limit and weight restriction, until I realised they want to close one lane over the Stour bridge by the Total garage.

I am sure there is an alternative to a five-week closure, but it probably costs too much and is too much hassle for them to implement.

This is the third time in six years they have split Stourport down the middle. First was the total closure of the bridge over the Stour by the Total garage, secondly was the closure of the main river bridge and now this. I will be walking to work, then spending 8-9 hours walking at work, then walking home exhausted, but at least I will be fit or too tired to care.

Secondly, I have read so many opinions over the last few months regarding the merging of traffic at the top of the Gilgal. I have to say, I class myself as a reasonable driver, with some faults, but coming up from Vale Road and seeing a lorry, 4x4 or the like, coming down the hill at you, not knowing how far they will drift to the right, because they have slightly misjudged the tightness and downhill nature of the corner, doesn’t fill me with confidence to try and attempt to merge.

Oh, one more thing. The traffic congestion in Mitton Street on Bank Holidays and the like should be avoidable with better signposts.

What happens is, visitors that turn into Mitton Street by The Steps pub, do not realise they have to stay in the left-hand lane to get to the centre of town, so tend to get in the right-hand lane, but then find around the Hollybush pub that they are in the wrong lane and have to try and get over.

This causes all the traffic trying to get back up Vale Road to be stuck for a while. What it needs is a big sign around the area of the Bridge over the Stour, by the Total garage, telling them to stay left once they enter Mitton Street.

By the time they see the signs in Mitton Street, it is too late. Rather like our concerns over the Gilgal really.

STEVE MARTIN The Grove Stourport