Councillors on the attack over football stadium plans (From Worcester News)

Councillors on the attack over football stadium plans

6:00pm Wednesday 6th July 2011 in News By Elizabeth Sweetman , @lizsweetmanWN #worcsnews

PLANS for a new football stadium for Worcester City Football Club need to go back to the drawing board, say parish councillors.

Warndon parish councillor Ted Holloway said his three concerns over plans for the proposed new football stadium off Nunnery Way was the entrance site, the lack of parking provisions and the location of the newly proposed pedestrian crossing.

Plans have been submitted for a signal controlled pedestrian crossing on Nunnery Way.

Worcester City Council is now waiting for a response from Worcestershire County Council over its views on the crossing and to see if it will suggest any alternatives.

As we reported back in 2009, the original plans for the stadium did not include proposals for a crossing across the busy bypass.

A crossing controlled by traffic lights was originally ruled out by the county council because it would interrupt traffic flow on the road, which is subject to the national speed limit of 70mph. A pedestrian bridge over Nunnery Way was deemed too expensive by developers and was objected to by police on safety grounds At a meeting of the parish council on Monday night, Councillor Holloway said the proposed location of the crossing was “dangerous” and also raised concerns over the 90-degree angle of the entrance to the site.

He was also left baffled by “inadequate” plans for just 179 parking spaces for the 5,400-seater stadium.

Coun Holloway said: “The parking provision is inadequate. As for the comment made by police that people walk to football matches – not out at Nunnery Way.

“I honestly think that someone needs to go back to the drawing board.

“I think we should point these points out.

“The entrance is in the wrong place, the crossing is dangerous, positioned too close to the traffic island, and there is inadequate parking on the site.

“These three issues are those that concern us the most.”

The plans submitted to Worcester City Council by St Modwen are for a new sports stadium to house Worcester City Football Club, offices, a new health and fitness centre, vehicle showrooms, a pub, restaurant and hotel.

Julie Rossiter, senior asset manager for St Modwen, said: “The site access proposals provide adequate and safe vehicular access to the site, and in addition, a safety audit has demonstrated there are no safety concerns over the provision of a signal controlled ‘at grade’ pedestrian crossing on Nunnery Way. The total parking provision for the site is 743 spaces.

“The revised plans address concerns raised by planning officers. We are continuing to have ongoing dialogue with the local authority, Worcester City Football Club and other stakeholders regarding the planning application.”