WORCESTERSHIRE County Council has hit back at suggestions that it hasn’t been open about alternative transport routes during the replacement of Evesham’s Abbey Bridge.

With fears about disruption caused by the bridge’s closure growing, some people have questioned why information detailing how Evesham traders will cope during the works has not been forthcoming.

The Journal has received several letters on the subject in recent weeks, including one from Martin King, a former district councillor for Bengeworth, who said: “Isn’t it time county councillors stopped avoiding providing any information, and allow businesses to plan for the consequences of the closure?

“Perhaps the truth crept out in a recent statement from Coun John Smith which included the line ‘shutting the bridge could lead to potential gridlock in the town’.

“Can we please be told when the county council will publish plans for traffic management and other matters consequent upon closure of the bridge, or will we yet again be ignored and kept in the dark until much nearer the time?”

Coun John Smith, Evesham town and Worcestershire county councillor, and cabinet member for highways and transport, denied people were deliberately being kept in the dark.

He said: “It’s just not true. At this stage the design and build contract for the work has not yet been confirmed, which means we don’t have details of any future traffic management plans.

“It would be foolish to speculate when the full facts are not known.

“Keeping people updated has been an essential part of the funding bid’s success and this will step up a gear as we move into the delivery phase.

“Plans for traffic management will be published and communicated to local businesses and residents, before being finalised, over the next few months.”

Abbey Bridge is expected to be closed in the summer of 2013 for the replacement work to get under way.