SIR – Commenting on the Waitrose development, the latest of Worcester’s many “traffic chaos” areas, one resident asked: “Does there have to be an accident before the council do something?”

The map on the county surveyor’s wall was marked with a black spot for each road traffic fatality – hence the origin of the phrase “accident black spot”.

The greater the number of spots which occurred at any particular point,  the more that site was prioritised in the capital programme. Elsewhere, there has been more “traffic chaos”.

A gas leak on the A4440 caused a two-and-a-half mile queue back to Powick. People were incensed, and said so on social media. Describing it as “horrendous”, one lady added: “Sick of this town and its traffic problems. Time to move on.”

How many more people will avoid Worcester because of its growing reputation as the country’s most congested city?

How many businesses will avoid the city and go somewhere with better communications?

The next problem area is Bilford Road, where the new swimming pool traffic will add to the chaos.

County Hall bosses insist they are not expecting significant disruption to traffic. Everybody else is!

And then there will be the new developments, the “super village”, with over 2,000 new homes, and the planned university expansion, not to mention Worcester growing outwards towards Kempsey.

And still there is silence from local MPs Robin Walker and Harriett Baldwin on the possibility of a western bypass for the city.  

David Withey                                           

Malvern

Not all cyclists are polite...

SIR – No doubt most of us have had experience of cyclists’ behaviour on country roads.  Of course, most of them ride legally one-abreast and are polite.

Some, however, do not and are not.

I have come across cyclists riding five abreast and refusing to move across when vehicles are following no matter how long the queue.  Sometimes vehicles are forced to drive into gateways in order to avoid an accident and to make progress.  I recently heard of a large group giving motorists the “middle finger” in response to a motorist indicating that he would like to pass.

I wonder whether it is not time that like vehicle users bicycle users should by law carry plates to identify them.   The kind of behaviour I have seen is (not only rude) but potentially dangerous, and since the culprits cannot be identified the incident/s cannot be reported to police and followed up.  

Wendy Hands

Upton-upon-Severn  

Dangers of drone use

SIR – I am not surprised at the actions of the Malvern Hills Conservators regarding drones and their prohibition.

Some years ago I was present when another problem, similar but more dramatic, took place.

This involved the landing of hot air balloons on the Malvern commons.

Dog walkers lost their animals when they panicked, and I had to recover a flock of geese from neighbouring fields.

Both the pilot and the gondola occupants were threatened, in no uncertain terms.

Hot air balloon companies have now been instructed not to land on common land, due to the problems they cause.

There’s no doubt that drones will have the same disturbing effect on livestock, particularly horses.

Steve Southwick

Callow End

Nothing is happening

SIR – I registered with the Self-Build Register at the start of April and have heard nothing since.

I have seen no promotion of this new government legislation via the local press, and no updates on the Malvern Hills District Council website.

The Self-Build Register is part of legislation to encourage and help people who want to build their own homes to find a suitable and cost-effective plot of land (this is the most difficult part of the process, especially in Malvern) and to connect with other self-builders to join with them and reduce the cost of the land purchase and build costs.

A great idea you would think!

So why is nothing happening, and why isn’t it being promoted?

Suzi Glantz

Malvern

This is no big leap forward

SIR – Unlike Cllr Simon Geraghty I am less than impressed at the prospect of the Great Western’s new super express taking over the Worcester to Paddington train services.

It appears that 40 years of progress will only give us a ten-minute improvement in journey times. These new trains, have under floor engines, will also be noisier than the trains they replace, and as for increased capacity, this will no doubt simply mean more aircraft style seating with more passengers crammed in. Big leap forward? I don’t think so. Of course the only way to really improve journey times is to double the remaining single track sections, something which we seem strangely unwilling to do.

SIMON GARDNER

Malvern