A COUNCILLOR has branded a new Safer Routes to School scheme non-sense.

Parents parking on the newly painted Ombersley Road cycle track while they pick-up kids from St Joseph's Primary and Westacre Middle schools, left Councillor Kate Spencer (Con-East) furious.

At a Town Council meeting on Monday, Cllr Spencer said she was amazed that the police had no control over the problem.

She said: "I am disgusted the police have no jurisdiction and parents can park on the cycle lane. What a waste of public money."

Cllr Terry Spencer (Con-South West) added: "We all assumed this would mean a safer route to school. But my fear is that children riding their bikes to school on encountering parked vehicles will swerve out into the main road to miss them.

"It is positively dangerous."

The £40,000 Worcestershire County Council Safer Routes to School scheme includes a new pedestrian crossing.

After the meeting Cllr Kate Spencer added: "The children are still having to use the pavements as a cycle path as the cycle route is not safe.

"I'm incensed the lights are still not working on the pedestrian crossing. The kids have been back at school five weeks now.

"The scheme seems nonsense."

A county council spokesperson said the cycle route was painted to provide a safe carriageway from moving cars for cyclists. The lights will be up and running within a few weeks, the spokesperson added.