We fear that our road will become a rat-run (From Worcester News)

We fear that our road will become a rat-run

1:20am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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RESIDENTS of St Peter’s Road in Malvern are concerned that plans to remove an access only restriction will turn the road into a rat-run and put schoolchildren at risk.

Worcestershire County Council’s highways department is currently consulting over a request from Malvern police to remove the restriction due to congestion and safety concerns.

But about 20 residents have formally objected to the plans.

Martin Hutchinson has lived in St Peter’s Road for 20 years and remembers the restriction being introduced when Northleigh Primary School was brought back into use about 15 years ago.

He said: “I just cannot understand why they would want to increase traffic on a road with a primary school. It just beggars belief.

“The whole thing was put in there because of safety concerns and now they want to turn it into a standard highway that anyone can use. With 450 homes being built nearby (at North Site) traffic will increase hugely.”

Edward Chadwick, who lives just off the road in Tanglewood Heights, has a 10-year-old child at the school.

He said: “I’m concerned for the safety of the children. Once the road is open and there is no deterrent, then the danger is that people will use it as a rat-run.”

Retired civil and highway engineer Ron Lober is urging the council to conduct a full survey into traffic problems in the road.

He said that residents would campaign until the proposals were dropped. “Revoking the order would turn St Peter’s Road into a short cut,” he said.

“This would increase traffic, reduce safety, have an adverse effect on the environment and make existing parking problems worse.”

Police said parents and the local policing officer had raised concerns over road safety in the area. “As a consequence of this, West Mercia Police formally asked Worcestershire County Council to review the need for the prohibition of driving order, which prevents vehicles (other than residents or other authorised vehicles) from driving along a length of St Peter’s Road,” a spokesman said.

Jon Fraser, county council highways community and response manager, said the request from police was due to congestion and safety concerns.

“We are looking into the removal of the access only and it is out to consultation at present. Any objections received will be carefully considered,” he said.