CAMPAIGNERS fear a popular pedestrian route in Malvern will become "dangerous" if controversial plans for a 150-home development on Hayslan Fields are approved on appeal.

The Pickersleigh Residents' Group believes the new estate would increase pedestrian use of the Sling Lane railway tunnel, putting schoolchildren, cyclists and elderly people at risk from traffic.

Vehicles are allowed to use the route to access the nearby Sling Lane football pitches by entering at Greenhill Drive and exiting via Sling Lane, while Barwood Strategic Homes has proposed fire engines, ambulances and police cars use it for emergency access to the new estate.

Jeff Williams, chairman of the residents' group, said: "If the Hayslan Fields development gets the green light, the Sling Lane railway bridge will be dangerous.

"More and more pedestrians will use the route alongside football traffic going in one direction and potentially emergency vehicles in the other.

"It is not very sensible.

"Using the tunnel for emergency access is absurd. It has been measured and we understand a fire engine couldn't even fit through."

On the issue of pedestrian safety, Malvern Hills District Council has countered that no accidents have been reported at the tunnel and that historically both pedestrians and vehicles have safely shared the tunnel.

A disgruntled resident however has spoken out about the Sling Lane railway bridge, labelling it a public safety concern.

Catherine Hall, 65, of Clerkenwell Crescent, said: “There are problems now and they are only going to get worse.

“Demands on the tunnel will increase and the pedestrian path is not wide enough.

“It is very dangerous and mistakes have been made.

“My main aim is for vehicles not to be allowed to use the route.

“I am trying to get the district and county council to engage in forward thinking to the time when traffic will increase and to agree that it is dangerous to allow cars through the tunnel.

“My hope is that their present obtuseness will cease and that the right decisions will be made for the future safe use of Sling Lane railway tunnel as a pedestrian way.”

The Sling Lane tunnel, which cuts under the railway line about half way between Malvern Link and Great Malvern stations, is 4m wide and 17m long.

It provides a pedestrian route into the Hayslan Fields – the so-called ‘green lung’ of Malvern – and enables cars to exit the Sling Lane football pitches, which are leased from Malvern Hills District Council by Newtown Sports Junior Football Club.

The club, which runs a number of youth teams, declined to comment on the concerns.

But Malvern Hills District Council strongly defended the current approach, stating there are no safety worries.

Sandra Hudson, estates and facilities manager at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “Historically, both pedestrians and vehicles have used the route under the bridge, which prompted concerns about the safety of pedestrians from residents.

“We worked with Worcestershire County Council and Network Rail to improve safety by introducing a clearly marked pedestrian route under the bridge and creating a one-way system through the site.

“To date we have had no reports of incidents or accidents.”