Lib Dems Welcome Lickey End Junction U-turn

Bromsgrove Lib Dems have welcomed a decision by the Cabinet at Worcestershire County Council to pause plans to close the junction of School Lane and dual part of the A38 in Lickey End.

Earlier in the year many residents were furious to discover that the Highways Department was proposing to close off the junction of School Lane and the A38 as part of plans known as the Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP). The changes would also have seen one side of the A38 in Lickey End dualled as well as changes to pavements.

The plans prompted a huge response from local residents with 90 people sending in comments and 270 signing a petition against the plans. The Lib Dem group also wrote to the highways authority calling for a rethink. As a result, the Lickey End section is the only part of the programme that is now being stalled.

Cllr Rob Hunter, who represents Norton and Lickey End at Bromsgrove District Council, has welcomed the U-turn.

Rob said: "I could see how unhappy people were when I attended the consultation event in Lickey End. Residents here badly want to see the local road network improved, but the priorities were all wrong in this plan. It was clear the changes were driven by a desire to reduce queuing on the M42 slip road rather than improve conditions for local residents. I look forward to seeing an improved plan which tackles the real issues in this area like speeding and congestion. We need wider pavements, better cycling provision, more pedestrian crossings and a reduced 30mph speed limit."

Fellow Lib Dem campaigner Josh Robinson who also campaigned against the changes added: "Residents in Lickey End already suffer from dangerously high levels of air pollution and deserve a better plan that will make their community a safer and healthier place to live."

Cllr Janet King, speaking on behalf of residents in her ward, Lickey Hills, expressed her relief at the rethink. She added: "The loss of the right turn into School Lane for motorists heading for Burcot, Blackwell and Barnt Green would have hugely increased traffic to and from the A38 along Burcot Lane, which is too narrow to take more cars."