A PROPOSED link road from the M42 near Hopwood could "spell disaster" for villagers and residents in surrounding areas, says a Bromsgrove councillor.

Councillor Jean Luck says she fears the £10 million link road, aimed at improving access from Rover's Longbridge plant to the motorway, could have disastrous consequences of increased traffic congestion closer to home.

She said: "While the road would tremendously improve traffic conditions at the Longbridge end, it would have a knock-on effect on Redditch and surrounding villages.

"This explosion of traffic could spell disaster for areas which have already a long history of traffic problems."

The construction of the Longbridge link road is one of four proposals put forward by Bromsgrove Council, Birmingham City Council and Worcestershire County Council, in partnership with MG Rover and regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.

The aim is to improve access and cut congestion between the Longbridge Business Park and the M42.

Consultants Faber Maunsell have proposed a northern and two southern link roads to join Rover's Groveley Lane plant to the A441 near Hopwood.

But Bromsgrove Council, backed by Mrs Luck, is fiercely opposed to the plans, favouring an alternative proposal of widening the existing road.

Mrs Luck said: "This option would cause the least disruption from both a financial and environmental viewpoint.

''Near the A441, there are fields into which the road could expand without having to churn up green belt land."

The "desecration" of the environment is the chief concern of Steve Wheeler, of Redditch and District Friends of the Earth.

He has slammed authorities for "failing to consider enough alternative options" to the link road, which in all three cases would involve destroying green belt land between Longbridge and Cofton Hackett.

Mr Wheeler said there were many environmentally friendly alternatives which he claimed had not been sufficiently explored, such as including improving existing rail and bus services or creating a bus and bicycle lane.

He added: "Air and noise pollution pose a huge threat to wildlife habitats and humans. This is clearly a case of money being more important than environmental issues."

He said Friends of the Earth would be consulting other environmental organisations to decide on a course of action.

The proposals were due to be discussed at a meeting of Alvechurch Parish Council on Monday.