RESIDENTS have gathered at a village hall to discuss their concerns over proposed changes to their area.

Plans have been put forward for a park-and-ride to be built with car parking to accommodate up to 500 commuter vehicles, 1,000 new homes and a new school in Rushwick.

The proposals have been put forward because the village, near Worcester, is designated as a strategic growth area under the current South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

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The format was informal, with small groups sitting around tables discussing their views and this was then fed back to Rushwick Parish chair, Andrew Deakin at the end of the session.

Cllr Deakin said it was important for residents’ views to be sent to planners as he did not want “the plan to get overwhelmed by Malvern Hills District Council.”

Philip Atfield, 71, a resident of Rushwick for 11 years, said: “I’m concerned Rushwick will lose its identity in the same way St John’s has done.

Jeremy William Turff, 63, from Rushwick, said: “I’m concerned this could turn out to be vanity project.

“Planners don’t seem to have a back-up plan, and what they’ll do if the plans get rejected - they’re putting all their eggs into one basket.”

Malvern Hills independent councillor Daniel Walton, whose ward includes Rushwick, said: “Looking at the plan, I can see huge faults with it.

“There won’t be a huge number of rail passengers using the station who live in Rushwick - it’ll be people from outside of the village.

“The rail-based strategy causes more issues as roads in the village could be filled with commuter cars who don’t want to buy a parking permit at the station.

One unnamed resident said: “This proposal is disruptive to the existing village, with potential avoidance parking on Bransford Road.

“I’m worried about the dangers to school children with increased vehicle traffic.”

Other points raised concerned the pressure of an increased population on primary and secondary health care services.

Cllr Walton added:” Everyone in this room is used to filling in objection forms.”

Concerns were also raised because no cycle paths were shown on the plans, even though there is a cycle catchment area added.

Points raised will now be forwarded to Malvern Hills District Council before the deadline of 5pm on December 16.

The meeting lasted between 7pm and 8:30pm and took place in the main room at Rushwick Village Hall.