A CAMPAIGN has been launched to plead with developers to leave a corridor through a new Pershore housing estate to avoid a potential future ‘nightmare’.
Former Mayor Coun Charles Tucker has launched the campaign urging Persimmon Homes and Wychavon District Council to earmark space in the new proposed Station Road housing estate.
Coun Tucker said the space is needed to ensure a much-needed relief road can be built in years to come.
The proposed continuation of the Northern Link Road would stretch from Station Road, at its junction with the Wyre Road, through the 86 home new estate, behind Pershore Hall to the north of the town on the B4084 Worcester Road.
Supporters of the scheme say leaving a space would be vital as, should it be built, the relief road would bypass the busy Pinvin junction as ease some of the strain on the town’s roads.
Coun Tucker told the Observer he had delivered newsletters to the 750 homes directly affected by the problems of Station Road and has received replies from several concerned residents.
“I’ve decided to do this because there just doesn’t seem to be any movement by either the developer or Wychavon.
“I’ve met with them both on two occasions and so has Pershore Town Council, there is real urgency if we’re to get change because the application may go to the Planning Committee on March 5.
“I am horrified at the prospects for local residents if we aren’t able to preserve the corridor that will enable this road to be built at some time in the future.
“Residents will face continuous traffic jams and more and more cars will take the rat runs through Appletree Road, Whitcroft Road and Cherry Orchard.
“Station Road can’t cope with the extra traffic. It has a bottleneck at each end, the Pinvin crossroads and the Worcester Road junction.
“Don’t believe the ‘experts’ who say the road can cope – it can’t.” he added.
However, planners at Wychavon District Council, the authority which will determine the future of the plans said the application would be decided on its merits.
David Hammond, housing and planning services manager, said: “There are no plans for a relief road around Pershore within the application or within the outline permission.
“The application involves the detailed matters for the proposed housing and it will be determined on its merits in the coming weeks.” he added.
