A NEW road layout in Worcester city centre could turn into a fatal accident spot, according to a concerned cyclist.

Harry Green says he is regularly forced out of the cycle lane and into the main body of traffic along Foregate Street following new works.

The pensioner believes the city council has bungled the scheme and paid no regard to the provision of cyclists.

The council admits it is not happy with the layout, but blames motorists for clogging up the road by parking on double yellow lines.

It is considering painting a bus "clearway" on the road, or possibly double red lines, which would ban even stopping.

"The final straw came for me when I was in the bus lane cycling down towards the centre and a car came so close to me in the opposite direction," said Mr Green, aged 65.

"Some poor devil's going to get killed or seriously injured. I've been watching with some disdain as they've been building this."

Mr Green, a former engineer, said he rode into the city from his home in Beckett Close, Northwick.

Cyclists are entitled to ride in the bus lane contraflow along The Tything and Foregate Street.

Over the last month, the council has reduced Foregate Street, near the station, to two lines of traffic and widened the pavement to cater for more pedestrians.

But Mr Green said the widened pavement forced him to swing out into the path of oncoming traffic.

He claimed motorists turning left out of Shaw Street were also forced into the bus lane to negotiate parked cars.

"No consideration has been given to cyclists. People have been parking there illegally. It's a ridiculous situation."

The city council's principal engineer Andy Walford said the pavement widening was undertaken to improve pedestrian safety because people were spilling on to the road.

He said it was not done to disadvantage cyclists as there should be enough room for oncoming vehicles to pass by without endangering them. Although vehicles carrying disabled stickers are entitled to park on double yellow lines for up to three hours, many ended up obstructing traffic.

"It's not performing as we expected and we do realise we have a problem," he said.

"We've been in discussions with the police over how to clamp down on illegal parking in the area."