Planned road closures across Park Street will now be implemented in phases after a backlash from residents led to a change of plans.

Last week this newspaper reported that a planned set of road closures had left elderly and vulnerable residents fearing they would be left 'isolated'.

Original plans would have seen large parts of the village shut down for 24 hours a day for a period of seven weeks, starting on August 19.

This led to a wave of complaints from residents and businesses, fearing the effects of a total shutdown of Watling Street, Radlett Road and Frogmore.

Following an intervention from Cllr Terrie Smith (Liberal Democrat, Park Street), Hertfordshire County Council has modified the plans in an attempt to minimise disruption to residents.

The works will now be carried out in five phases between next week and October.

The planned closures are now as follows:

Phase one: North of Park Street to Burydell Lane will be closed from August 19 August 23.

Phase two: Burydell Lane to Park Street Lane, August 23 to August 30.

Phase three: South of Park Street Lane to Park Place, August 30 to September 13.

Phase four: Sycamore Drive to Branch Road, September 13 to September 27.

Phase five: Across Branch Road to Park Street, Bridge, September 27 to October 4.

After fears were expressed about public transport, buses will be diverted, with shuttle buses put on to allow access to them.

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Details of these transport changes will be announced in due course.

Previously, resident Roger Gray had told this newspaper that HCC have a "duty of care" to elderly and mobility impaired residents like him, pointing out that many are people are reliant on public transport in their day-to-day lives.

While the planned works involve digging along the middle of roads, HCC aim to ensure some form of access for residents and businesses at all times.

For more information on the road closures and how they may affect you visit hertfordshire.gov.uk/roadclosures.