RESIDENTS living in St John's say they fear traffic gridlock from a huge £100 million-plus university development on their doorstep.

They are also demanding council chiefs and the University of Worcester get together for fresh talks about congestion on the west side of the city, claiming it will become "awful" unless serious changes are agreed.

As the Worcester News revealed yesterday, the university wants to turn acres of farmland off Oldbury Road into a new student complex.

A planning application is due to be submitted this autumn over 'University Court', focusing on living quarters and extra teaching facilities on fields connected to Temple Laugherne Farm.

Worcester's MP Robin Walker yesterday hailed the massive cash injection into the city, but some residents have called it "bewildering".

The land is close to a 2,150-home 'super village' proposal, straddling the A44 Bromyard Road in Lower Broadheath, which is expected to be built within the next decade.

Tracey Edge, 51, of Oldbury Road, said: "We've been here 17 years and luckily this is the last little area where students haven't taken over.

"The university campus is nice and peaceful but why would we want even more development around here?

"The traffic will be awful unless something changes, it's a daily battle trying to get onto the M5 from here or the centre of Worcester."

Pensioner Brian Kelly, 70, of Comer Road, said: "I can quite understand them wanting to grow bigger but at what point do people in St John's say 'that's quite enough', that's my question.

"It's the roads that can't cope. If no students drive that's another matter but all of us have cars these days - the roads around here are awful as it is."

Another resident, who did want to be named, said the university should invest in better play areas and the Carrington Bridge revamp in return for planning permission.

Cllr Richard Udall, who represents the area, said: "The devil will be in the detail, we'll need to study their proposals very closely.

"I hope it could reduce the pressure and the problems in and around their current campus on Oldbury Road - however we'll need to ensure they are simply not moving the problems to a new area.

"The university have a huge social responsibility with this proposal, they need to get it right.

"I have long stated that the university should have had a purpose-built modern campus with better facilities for students and staff, I hope this is the start of that process."

Robin Walker added: "This answers a request I've been making for years, which is the university developing more of its own accommodation.

"They are delivering real regeneration in the city."

University bosses say the new development will mainly be halls of residence as well as some teaching space and a cafe.

Professor David Green, the University's vice-chancellor, says it will deliver "outstanding new facilities that will benefit students, staff and the local community".

It says more details will emerge when the consultation launches next Wednesday.