A WESTERN bypass will not be considered as a way of easing traffic congestion in Bromsgrove after the leading Conservative group on the district council voted it down.
Liberal Democrat leader Coun Rob Hunter put forward a motion at the last full council meeting, calling on members to consider the relief road as part of its next Strategic Transport Assessment, but it was thrown out.
Coun Hunter said: “The Conservatives, say they are committed to resolving congestion but when push comes to shove they will not fight for a real solution to the chronic traffic problems we face in this town.
“The planned improvements to the existing main A38 route are welcome but are clearly not sufficient in the long-term.
“Local residents deserve a proper debate on this issue instead of it being swept under the carpet.”
The Lib Dem group said the ‘health and wellbeing’ of local residents was the most important thing.
Conservative leader Coun Karen May said: “Worcestershire County Council is carrying out a strategic traffic assessment of the north of the county following pressure brought to bear by myself and other fellow county councillors.
“Whilst we appreciate there are congestion issues in our district.
“We need this strategic traffic assessment to give us leverage to work in partnership with the county council to address the issues.
“We can’t just push for a Western By-pass with no costing or research into it.
“We need to assess where we are first before making big decisions like this one.
“It’s important to look at exactly what the problems are before we move forward.”
