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Diane Wilson’s journey to visit her mother, who lives in a care home, usually takes three miles and less than five minutes.

But after she voiced concern, the organisers of a major charity cycle rally through Birmingham have given the 69-year-old an alternative route from Harborne to Bournville – a round-trip of 50 miles taking in the M5, Halesowen, Bromsgrove and the Lickey Hills.

Organisers of Sunday's Velo Birmingham, a 100-mile “festival of cycling” taking in Birmingham, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Sandwell and Dudley, helpfully provided Diane with a map of the major detour.

“At first I thought they were joking,” said the 69-year-old. “It is 24.7 miles one way. Our little corner of Harborne is totally cut off.”

Diane’s Mazda MX5 sports car does around 40mph to the gallon. That means the journey to Selly Wood House, where Diane’s 97-year-old mother lives, will be a lot more expensive as well as time consuming.

“And I’m not alone,” she pointed out. “It will not only affect care home visitors, but also staff.

(Image: Handouth)

“I’ve been told the other solution is to park my car outside the restrictions and walk to it, but that presents a security issue.”

The restrictions are in place from 9am to 6pm on Sunday.

Diane claims that the full scale of the disruption has never been fully or adequately explained.

“There should have been more publicity – we are totally cut off.

“It appears no one round here has been told and given a few weeks to sort themselves out.

“There are now a pile of signs saying ‘no through road’. I don’t suppose 50 per cent of the people know this is going to happen.

“There has been very, very little publicity – it has been just dumped on us.”

South Staffordshire traders have also kicked up a stink over road closures.

Bill Wilkinson, chairman of the committee at Halfpenny Green Marketing Group, said 25 businesses will be hit by the closure of Tom Lane.

He said: “We just feel everyone’s passing the buck. We’re told it’s arranged by Birmingham City Council who seem to have a total disregard for everyone else.”

In a letter to Diane, a spokesman for Velo Birmingham Team, said: “Lordswood Road, Cliffhorse Road and Court Oak Road are interfering with your commute.

"Driving around the road closure will be possible by using the M5.

(Image: Handout)

“I added a ‘suggested route’ around the road closures. Another option would be parking outside the road closures and walk on foot to your car.

“Pedestrian access is not restricted during the road closures, as these apply to vehicles.

“We do recommend that people take the normal amount of care when crossing the roads and wait for a space between cyclists to cross safely.

“If you are unsure you can speak to stewards along the route who will be able to help.”

After we approached Velo organisers on Mrs Wilson’s behalf, they helpfully – and kindly – offered to go the extra mile.

The Velo spokesman told Diane: “If you do need to make arrangements for Sunday we are committed to ensuring that we facilitate access for carers across the entire route as much as we can and I’d like to help however I can.

“Whilst road closures are from 9am to 6pm in the area, there is a period before cyclists arrive where we can facilitate some managed access for essential movements such as emergency services, care requirements, holidays, work etc.”

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Diane has, however, now decided to scrub Sunday's trip.

* Starting on Broad Street in central Birmingham , the 100-mile fully closed road route will take 15,000 cyclists on a breathtaking journey from city to country.

The finish line will be on Broad Street where riders will be directed to the Barclaycard Arena (NIA) – Velo Birmingham’s official finish venue – to celebrate their achievement.

The route has been agreed in partnership with Birmingham City Council , Worcestershire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council ,as well as emergency services and transport operators to minimise the inconvenience of the necessary road closures.