RESIDENTS are calling for a new and independent study of the traffic situation on roads around the proposed North Site development.

West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer listened to concerns at a meeting in the New Recruit, Newtown Road, on Friday, attended by around 30 residents and councillors.

Current landowner, the Ministry of Defence, has offered to put around £1 million towards improving the current road structure to cope with traffic from up to 390 new houses. However, many residents are worried that existing roads cannot cope with any more traffic.

Meeting organiser Jo McFarlane, of Newtown Road, said many residents of roads including Somers Park Avenue, Newtown Road and Church Road felt there was already too much traffic.

"An increased flow of traffic, especially at school picking-up time would be crazy," she said.

"Near Somers Park Primary and Ascension Nursery between 3.15-3.30pm, there are cars and kids everywhere. The existing roads can't support traffic at the moment."

She said car parking and the speed of cars travelling along roads was becoming dangerous and that additional traffic would make the situation worse.

Michael Charles, who has lived on Somers Park Avenue for more than 50 years, said: "There has been no consideration for people who live in the area and how it will affect them."

Previous suggestions of creating a relief road linking the development with a roundabout in Townsend Way were also discussed.

Ms McFarlane said she was in favour of creating a relief road for the development, but several residents said this would destroy the natural environment and nearby residents' views.

Town councillor John Wilcox said a road traffic survey, carried out four years ago by Worcestershire County Council, was not sufficient to base traffic flow on.

"The very least you should expect is an independent full traffic flow survey," he said.

District councillor John Raine said on Monday that both the county council and the MOD's agents had carried out traffic surveys for the development.

But Sir Michael intends to contact the county council to request that an independent survey be carried out as soon as possible.

A further exhibition, at which the planned road alterations can be seen, has been organised for 5.30pm on Tuesday, November 16, at Dyson Perrins High School.

See Your Letters, page 6.