CONCERNS have been raised about a development next to a 'hazardous' city rat-run.

Cllr James Stanley claimed the application to convert an outbuilding into a home in Bourne Street, Worcester, was not safe because drivers use the access street as a rat-run.

The plans proposed a single-storey extension to the property and the construction of a garage, which would open onto the road.

Cllr Stanley said this would effectively turn the road into a residential street.

Opponents argued the project would fundamentally change the nature of the access street and 22 people signed a petition against it.

Despite this, councillors voted in favour of the application at a Worcester City Council planning committee meeting on Thursday.

Cllr Stanley, who represents Claines, said: "It should be noted that many residents have signed a petition expressing their opposition to the application.

"It is suggested that a vehicle may access and leave the property directly from and onto Bourne Street.

"I can hardly conceive of a design more flawed and potentially hazardous.

"Many road users are in the habit of using Bourne Street as a rat-run thus creating the potential for other issues of safety."

Cllr Stanley warned that mothers and buggies already have to walk in the road, due to pavement being just 95cm wide.

He added: "The current pavement is a grave concern in itself and the potential consequences for the safety of pedestrians should this [application] be allowed to proceed one can easily imagine."

He said that the street currently comprises of garages and rear entrances to homes.

Resident Chris Thorp also objected to the application in an email to planners.

He wrote: "Such a development would set a most unwelcome precedent.

“The development of an independent dwelling on this lane would make a fundamental change in the character, the nature and status of the lane… to one of a residential road.

“Bourne Street is a single traffic-lane lane, where there are already occasional difficulties in vehicles of all sorts seeking to travel along it in opposite directions.

“A residential property in the lane will only aggravate an already poor situation.”

Cllr Geoff Williams said: "I use this [street] probably twice a day most days.

"It's not used terribly often as a rat-run. You don't gain very much, you gain a few yards and then you're back in the traffic again.

"There is an issue with parking in the area, as there is with a lot of Worcester."

Councillors rejected the argument that the project would lead to further development.

Cllr Paul Denham said he did not buy the 'precedent argument' and noted that transformation of the area has already happened.

Richard Coutts, owner of the property, said the proposal was a sympathetic conversion of a little-used but sizeable outbuilding.

Mr Coutts, who works as an architect, added: "The new access onto Bourne Street is no different to any of the existing properties and the proposals have also been approved unanimously at planning committee."