FEARS of traffic chaos are growing as important signs warning motorists not to use a Church Hill bus lane have yet to be installed, despite the road being opened up to residents.
As part of the redevelopment of Church Hill Centre, motorists will be allowed to cross part of Church Hill Way for the first time to get from the revamped district centre off Tanhouse Lane to a new housing development off Rickyard Lane.
The move prompted concerns from residents and councillors when the idea was first revealed more than 12 months ago, as it was feared it would encourage drivers to use the bus lane itself, while turning Tanhouse Lane and Rickyard Lane into a rat run.
And although the road is not set to officially open until the new year, residents set to move into seven of the 51 new homes built on the Rickyard Lane side this month will be able to use it, despite the fact signs warning drivers they cannot turn left and right have yet to be installed.
Resident Ian Johnson said motorists were already crossing the bus lane to get to the new YMCA car park.
“The developer and Worcestershire County Council have had months of opportunity to erect the correct ignage and nobody seems to know what is going on.” he said.
“The signs will not resolve the issue of traffic using the bus lane, however it may improve the situation.
“Obviously with people living on site from December this is going to increase traffic over the bus lane so something needs to be done to get the signs installed more quickly.”
A spokeswoman for Worcestershire County Council said: “The road is not officially open for use but we take a com-mon sense approach to residents who need access to their property.
“The new traffic regulation order is in process and likely to be in place in the next month, all signage will be installed at that point in time.”
