NEW streetlights on Wells Road are out of keeping with the area and spoil the "unique and beautiful views", Malvern Wells Parish Council has heard.

Resident Roly Pewsey spoke out at a parish council meeting last week describing the lights as "motorway style" and "totally inappropriate".

Mr Pewsey, who lives on Wells Road, said the lights would ruin the views of the night sky because of their brightness and disturb the sleep patterns of his children. He also said he believed the lights, at the junction of Wells Road and Holywell Road, would encourage drivers to drive faster and that they wouldn't make the road safer.

Coun John Tretheway said he had sympathy for his views as the lights were "ugly" but that there was a need for lights at the junction.

Coun Brian Wilcock said the lights had been requested by local people a few years ago because the old gas lights were only footpath lights and the A449 was a major road.

The Highways Authority had installed the lights, he said, after consultation with residents.

The parish council agreed to contact the Highways Authority about screening for the lights so they would not shine into nearby properties.

They also agreed to contact police about the possibility of a speed check on the road.