FRUSTRATED town council chiefs have called for an explanation from county highways bosses for the controversial Station Road traffic lights in a bid to end the misery and delays endured by motorists.
Members of Pershore Town Council instructed town clerk Ann Dobbins to write to John Hobbs at Worcestershire County Council for answers to a number of questions about the lights which have been in place for several months, leading to congestion on one of Pershore’s busiest roads.
Councillors have asked Mr Hobbs for a detailed explanation why traffic lights are considered to be the best option for the Station Road and Wyre Road junction once work on the new development is completed.
In a bid to ease congestion, council chiefs have also asked whther the temporary lights could be removed at weekends on a trial basis.
Efforts by local residents to demand a roundabout be built at the junction were rebuffed by county council highways chiefs at the end of last year but despite the thumbs-down, councillors have requested the detailed technical reason why a roundabout would not fit at the junction, irrespective of services running through the site and land ownership.
A town council spokesman said: “We await a response from the county council on the questions asked as we believe the residents of Pershore should know the detail why the council has made the decisions it has.”
The issue has been at the heart of a war of words between Persimmon and Worcestershire County Council with each side blaming the other for the lack of progress.
Town MP Harriett Baldwin even agreed to work with the local authorities and the housing developer to mediate the long-running dispute.
Speaking in November Persimmon Homes’ Andy Peters confirmed a permanent solution was ready to be implemented but work is yet to begin on any solution.
But county traffic chiefs said they were waiting on further technical details from the developer before the green light could be given to any proposals.
A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson told the Observer a response had now been sent to the town council.
“After careful consideration of both residents’ concerns and alternative junction proposals, we have concluded a standard sized roundabout is unsuitable as it would require land outside of the Council’s control to make it possible and would be significantly more expensive to implement.
“Currently, a traffic signals scheme continues to be the preferred method of traffic management for all involved.”
