THE LIBERAL Democrats on Bromsgrove District Council are demanding a new route be found for a potential relief road now developers are building housing off Perryfields Road.
The group said a feasibility assessment was completed in 2015 by JMP consultants which detailed a Western Relief Road passing through land off Perryfields Road.
This area is now being developed into housing making the study out of date, but no viable alternative options have been produced.
Lib Dem councillors are appealing to Bromsgrove District Council to produce a business case to undertake a new study so that the possibility of a relief road remains on the table.
A motion on the subject is due to be debated at the next full council meeting on Wednesday, February 22.
Coun Rob Hunter, who leads the Lib Dem Group and submitted the motion, said: “There is no longer a viable plan for a relief road but the need for one is stronger than ever. “Anyone who has driven around Bromsgrove at peak times knows this.
“Yes we need to be encouraging people towards active travel, and the design for a modern relief road would absolutely reflect that, but we cannot ignore what is staring us in the face any longer.
“Traffic will only continue to grow, and we need a serious answer to the problem.
“It’s not just about the inconvenience it’s about the environmental and economic costs of congestion too.”
Lib Dem Coun Josh Robinson, who represents Bromsgrove Central Division at Worcestershire County Council, said: “Highways are a county responsibility, but I welcome this action from the Lib Dem Group here in Bromsgrove.
“Infrastructure planning relies on a partnership between the local authorities, and it is on issues like this that smaller district councils, which are closer to their communities, can really add value.
“I hope the other groups will back this sensible and long overdue proposal.”
Campaigners hit out at spine road changes
We reported on February 2 that campaigners were calling for a ‘better highways solution’ for the Perryfields development.
They accused Taylor Wimpey of altering a direct ‘spine road’ which ran parallel to the M5 to put more bends in it, which they said would deter drivers from using it and turn other areas of the town into rat runs.
In response, Taylor Wimpey North Midlands said it had worked extensively with Worcestershire County Council to agree the spine road design for the Perryfields development.
