A PETITION urging the Government to fully dual the A4440 Southern Link Road has been launched amid fears the west side of the city could turn into a ‘dormitory town’.
Dr Brian Gladman, of St John’s, said he decided to set up the petition after growing frustrated at the lack of businesses in the area, which he believed was caused by the constantly congested route.
A £38million scheme is currently underway to dual the road from the Ketch roundabout to Junction 7 of the M5 motorway, with work expected to be completed within the next five years.
However, Dr Gladman wants the entire route to be dualled, including the Carrington Bridge, as he believed it would help to boost Worcester’s economy.
“The Southern Link Road is so critical to Worcester and I am just disappointed that you do see other parts of the country getting that investment,” he said.
“The danger for St John’s is that it is going to become a dormitory as more employment is on the east of the river and most of the housing is on the west of the river.
“My original thought was to put pressure on the housing inspector to prevent any new homes being build on the west of the river until the road was dualled because the pressure will continue to increase.
“It is not just the former Kays site that is going to be full of houses but also they are planning to create a new development in Dines Green, so something needs to be done as soon as possible.”
A £63million bid has already been made by Worcestershire’s Local Enterprise Partnership to carry out work on the Carrington Bridge as part of its Strategic Economic Plan.
But Dr Gladman, who has received the support of Worcester MP Robin Walker, believes a petition would help to put pressure on transport chiefs to provide the funds.
Mr Walker added: “I welcome this public call for investment in a road which I have long believed is a key bottleneck for Worcestershire.
“Dualling the whole of the Southern link would reduce traffic and congestion both in and around Worcester. I know there will be strong support for it from the business community and local residents and I look forward to being able to use it in order to press the case in Parliament.”
To sign the petition visit www.petitions24.com/dual_the_worcester_southern_link_road_now
