A MAJOR transport blueprint for Worcestershire has failed to tackle much-needed improvements to bus services in the city, Worcester’s Green Party has claimed.
Green councillors have called on transport chiefs at County Hall to do more to curb city centre congestion after the green light was given to the Local Transport Plan for 2017 to 2030.
Despite highlighting a number of transport projects for the county in the next 13 years, the party has claimed the plan could have recommended more improvements for bus services.
Party chiefs recognised Worcestershire County Council’s work with bus companies but accused transport bosses of ‘waiting for them to take the initiative’.
Councillors have also called for a bus users forum to be established in the city in a ‘proactive’ bid to reduce the chronic congestion in Worcester.
Coun Louis Stephen, who represents Battenhall on Worcester City Council, said: “We believe the County Council must have greater ambition for public transport and work proactively with bus companies to improve services.
“We say cycling should be a safe, healthy and pleasurable way of getting around. This will need serious investment in better cycle tracks, separating them from other traffic wherever possible.
“We want children to be able to walk safely to school. Pavements have been neglected, which causes real problems, whether you are walking, pushing a pram or using a wheelchair.’
“High levels of traffic congestion are leading to a frustrating waste of time waiting in traffic and negatively affects our local economy, while the poor air quality associated with congestion also causes a significant number of premature deaths.”
Party chiefs claim the new plan is ‘just a beginning for more sustainable transport’.
In response Coun Ken Pollock, cabinet member for Economy and Infrastructure, said the authority was committed to reducing the problem of congestion in Worcester.
“We have committed a total of £11.53million towards tackling congestion including £6.6million of funding Worcestershire received from the Department for Transport.
“A total of £5million from this will be invested into improving countywide congestion, whilst the remainder of the money will soon be invested in Worcester city centre and also in Bromsgrove.”
“We will continue to work with commercial bus operators, following the LTP4 consultation process, to ensure services can continue to improve and adapt to technological advances in order to provide the best services possible for the people of Worcestershire.”
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