AN OUTSPOKEN Worcester councillor has condemned the location of a new bus stop at a busy junction in Blackpole, claiming it is a “recipe for yet more traffic congestion”.
Following complaints from residents about the bus-stop outside the new Lidl store on Blackpole Road, local County and City Councillor for Warndon, Alan Amos, arranged a site visit with County Highways officers to come up with a solution to improve traffic flow.
With the new Lidl store attracting new customers to the area, Coun Amos expressed concerns that the bus-stop will cause longer queues and delays.
He said: “I am very concerned that the location of this bus stop will greatly add to the traffic congestion which already exists at this point.
“It is sited such that vehicles will not be able to overtake a stationary bus dropping off and picking up passengers so it will block the flow of traffic, creating another impediment and causing ever-longer queues and delays at a point which is already notorious for them.
“We need to keep the traffic moving at what is already one of the most congested spots in the area.
“The obvious solution would be to move the bus stop into a layby as there is plenty of spare unused land right next to it. Goodness only knows why that was not put forward in the beginning.
“Given that this bus stop is right in the middle of two roundabouts, it is a recipe for yet more traffic congestion.
“I am pleased the county council will immediately start to monitor the extra congestion and report back to me. But they will have to move it if the added congestion turns out to be as bad as I fear it will be.”
