The Hanley Road has been flooded and therefore closed for the fourth time in four months. The road floods when the River Severn exceeds 4.7m flood height. In recent months, the river has reached 5.1m and 5.15m. To prevent the Hanley Road flooding, the road would need to be raised by at least 50cm (and this would not have protected the road in February 2024 when the river reached 5.48m).
Raising the road by 50cm would mean that the Severn Cottages which adjoin the road would be below road level. The new road level would mean that the cottage windows would be at road gutter level. In addition, the road would have to start rising before the entrance to the Warners Supermarket. This would mean the forecourt and petrol area of Warners would need to be raised and re-built.
The bridge over the Pool Brook just at the edge of Upton is particularly narrow. This is because it is bounded by the Severn Cottages at one side, and the river on the other. A new bridge would need to be built. This would be 50cm higher than the current bridge, and would have a 5.3m drop into the brook, so the sides would need to provide protection for road users and pedestrians. The height would require the road and footpaths to be widened, meaning the bridge would need to be built wider onto the river bank. Tests would be required to determine if the river bank could support a new bridge.
There is an alternative to take advantage of higher land behind Warners. The Pool Brook runs down to Upton because there is a ridge of high ground running between the brook and the river. This ridge stretches almost to Upton, and could be used as a lower cost way to build a road which is less likely to flood.
It would be possible to route the road through the Hanley Road car park, then curving north, following the line of the ridge to connect back up with the original Hanley Road. This new road would be built predominantly on firm land (other than a new bridge over the Pool Brook), and could facilitate re-connecting with New Street, improving access to the town. The new road could incorporate an active travel corridor with a cycle path linking the town safely to Hanley Castle High School. Ultimately, the road could be extended to connect with Tunnel Hill, and create a bypass for through traffic for Upton. The reduction in through traffic could then lead to a one way system through the town, linked with wider footpaths, and more car parking within the town. The downside would be loss of parking spaces, and a reduction in the overnight lorry parking, but this could be accommodated elsewhere in Upton.
Sarah McDermott, the Conservative County Council Candidate for Upton (Croome Division), said “We have had the road closed four times already this year with serious car accidents occurring on the diversion route. The raising of the Hanley Road should now be a priority for County, and a new route avoiding the Severn Cottages must be considered.”
Jeremy Owenson, the local District Councillor, stated “MHDC will provide support to the plans to raise the Hanley Road. We need people with vision like Sarah at County level to get this project moving.”
