New bus service part of revised Webheath plans

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A NEW bus linking Webheath and the town centre could be introduced if plans to build 200 new homes are given the go-ahead.

Revised plans for the Church Road site have seen developers Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes add in the provision of a new six-day service running from 7am to 7pm.

If approved, the plans would include a new bus stop on Church Road for the bus which would need 240 people a day to use it for it to be sustainable. It is estimated around 50 residents in the new homes would use the service as well as some of those who used the 68 service prior to it being axed.

Other amendments to the plans include a new combined footpath and cycle lane which would link the existing paths to the north east of Church Road and a pedestrian link on to Great Hockings Lane.

The Birchfield Road junction would be widened to include two lanes and crossing points would be added alongside extended pavements.

A period of consultation will run until 5pm on Sunday, February 24, to allow residents to comment on the changes before the application goes to the council's March planning committee meeting.

But David Rose, from the Webheath Action Group, said the revised application had still not taken into account the 'poor roads' in the district, adding there would be 'deaths and serious injuries' if all the houses were built.

He said other locations within Webheath could possibly hold up to 150 houses but he felt the level of housing eventually planned was not sustainable.

To view the plans, visit the Planning Services page at www.redditchbc.gov.uk (reference number 2012/204/OUT) or for more information e-mail developmentcontrol@redditchbc.gov.uk or call 01527 534064.

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