Homes bid raises fears over junction safety - The Malvern Observer

Homes bid raises fears over junction safety

Malvern Editorial 7th Aug, 2015 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

HIGHWAYS chiefs have been slammed for not taking a ‘real world view’ after proposals to build more than 30 homes near a ‘highly dangerous’ junction were re-submitted.

Plans to construct 33 homes on land off Broadlands Drive were originally submitted last year but Worcestershire County Council’s highways raised objections to the application due to the safety of the road and Cowleigh Bank junction.

However, highways have accepted new proposals and have added a host of conditions, which include a joint road survey to be undertaken before any development starts.

Nathan Burlton, a resident of Broadlands Drive, told The Observer if plans were passed through it would be a ‘recipe for disaster’ – with Northleigh CofE Primary School located just yards away on Cowleigh Bank.




“Worcestershire highways have agreed this is an acceptable solution but I don’t know of a single resident who agrees,” Mr Burlton said.

“This proposal will effectively reduce the road to a single carriageway by this junction, forming a narrowing ‘funnel’ coming down the hill.


“I am very disappointed highways are not seemingly taking a real world view of what the situation is like, considering the daily use of this road in peak times.”

Fears were also raised about the safety of children walking to and from the primary school with an increase in vehicles, and Andrew Jarvis, chair of governors at Northleigh CofE Primary, said traffic calming measures would need to be introduced.

“We accept from time to time there will be changes to the community, including housing development schemes,” he added.

“If the additional traffic was considered an issue at the junctions where our children pass on their way to and from school then we would be looking for additional traffic management measures to be introduced.

“These could include pedestrian crossing or traffic lights with pedestrian crossing facilities.”

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said: “We can confirm that an application was submitted earlier this year and we recommended refusal as there was a deficiency in the available visibility when exiting the junction.

“The applicants have now submitted a new application with amendments to the layout of the junction – which we feel has overcome our main objection.

“In light of this we have sent a revised recommendation to the planning authority recommending the new conditions. We have been proactive and met some of the objectors on site several weeks ago to talk through the issues and to explain our position.

“We are still very much in discussion with objectors and will speak to them to answer any questions they may have.”

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