MP Harriett Baldwin has demanded for a housing company to act now to reduce delays on a busy road.

The MP for West Worcestershire has written to Persimmon Homes asking contractors to complete required work which will deliver a road junction at Station Road, easing congestion at peak times.

The call comes after highways chiefs rejected appeals for a roundabout to be put in at the junction.

Mrs Baldwin met Jon Fraser from Worcestershire County Council’s highways team at the site to discuss the issues surrounding the junction following a series of complaints from constituents.

As part of the planning permission, the developer agreed to pay for a permanent junction, but at the moment the traffic is being managed by a temporary system which is causing delays for road users.

Mrs Baldwin agreed to write to the developer urging them to urgently speed up the construction of the much-needed traffic control system.

The housing company has responded by blaming Worcestershire County Council for the delay.

Mrs Baldwin said: “As a regular user of this road, I am well aware of the serious delays that can occur and entirely sympathise with local people who are frustrated by this problem.

“Having discussed the matter at length with Worcestershire County Council, and received other representations, I believe the best and quickest option is to demand that Persimmon build the junction that they promised, without delay.

“With funding now coming on stream to deliver the Pershore link road, I know that the longer term solution is on the way, but Persimmon must simply get on with the work to get a fit-for-purpose junction working on Station Road.”

Andy Peters, managing director for Persimmon Homes South Midlands, said: “We’re very concerned that MP Harriett Baldwin has misunderstood the current situation.

“Persimmon have been vigorously pursuing Worcester County Highways for nearly two years and we await their technical approval to allow us to construct the permanent junction.

“We’re in the business of selling houses and our priority is to complete the works required to ultimately present our development with completed road improvements whilst keeping the inconvenience to locals as minimal as possible.

“We would be more than happy to meet with Harriett and Worcester County Highways to find a way forward.”

Jon Fraser, from Worcestershire Highways, said: "There is now an agreed general arrangement in place for the traffic light junction proposed by Persimmon. 

"Highways approval of this arrangement  is subject to the submission of final technical details that we are due to receive from Persimmon imminently, and subject to this the delivery programme can be finalised."