A FATAL crash has led to renewed calls for a stretch of road to be made safer.
A 22-year-old man died after a motorbike crash at the roundabout between St Peter’s Drive and Norton Road on Sunday (June 15).
County councillors Martin Allen and Louis Stephen are calling for Worcestershire County Council to look at reducing the speed limit on the A4440 to 50mph between the Ketch and St Peter’s roundabouts.
The councillors, whose county divisions overlap the southern bypass, have also suggested rumble strips as a traffic calming measure and the installation of average speed cameras.
Cllr Allen, the Green councillor for Kempsey, said: “As the Ketch roundabout was being constructed, I could see problems ahead.
“On raising these issues more than once, I was told that there wouldn’t be a problem.
“Since the work was completed, there have been scores of minor accidents and bumps, residents struggle to drive across the Ketch roundabout from Kempsey into Worcester and vice versa, mainly due to the sheer volume of traffic coming from the M5 and Powick heading north and south.
“Residents in the newly constructed Pear Tree Fields estate on Taylors Lane regularly complain about the traffic noise, especially the loud noise emitted from exhausts of both cars and motorbikes, which are often fiercely accelerating or racing in the dead of night.
“We need the county council to act – people have a right to a good night’s sleep.”
Cllr Stephen, another Green councillor, added: “Although I have just been elected as the county councillor for St Peters, I am acutely aware there is an issue on this stretch of road.
“We will have to wait for the police report to understand the causes of this terrible accident, but I join with Cllr Allen asking for Highways to look at this road again.
“There are options to make the road safer and to reduce noise pollution.”
Councillor Karl Perks, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We are deeply saddened by the incident that happened on Sunday.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends of the motorcyclist.
“We await any information the police investigation provides relating to the incident. Any feedback will be taken into consideration for any future revisions.”