Sir Wednesday evening 14th January I attended a public meeting at Perdiswell Leisure Centre regarding a pursued agenda by the Green Party in relation to Bilford Road/Astwood Road Junction.

A Senior Officer representing the County Council as Local Highway Authority made it very clear to the audience the various options such as a Roundabout, Traffic Signals, Speed Camera or a complete junction alteration being promoted by the Greens could not be delivered due to various factors such as: individual private accesses within the junction confines; recent measured means speeds being below the 30mph speed limit; no recorded personal injury accidents over the last three years; and, importantly, costs implications.

The plan tabled by the Officer at the meeting for the junction in respect to Traffic Management Measures is one I have made previously to the County Council.

There is no point promoting and publicising costly road improvements to residents knowing full well they cannot be justified or delivered.

However if money was no object to deliver a changed junction in relation to design costs,Stage 1 and 2 road safety audit, existing utility equipment being altered, street lighting and private accesses being changed together with construction would in my view cost some £200,000.

I wish to state that Ex County Councillor and previous Chair of the County Council Mary Drinkwater and I on many occasions over the last 20 years engaged in correspondence and dialogue with the County Council and were told exactly the same scenario as stated by the Officer.

Gareth Jones..Worcester City Councillor for St Stphen Ward.