FRUSTRATED Hagley campaigners have hand delivered a letter to Worcestershire County Council after they felt the village’s road safety concerns were falling on deaf ears.

Led by Hagley Parish Council chairman, Councillor Steve Colella, a group of councillors and residents paid a visit to County Hall in Worcester in a bid to make their feelings known to chief executive Claire Marchant.

Cllr Colella, who is also a Bromsgrove District Councillor for Hagley West, said councillors and village residents are concerned with the safety and new layout of the A456, which was redesigned following the approval of the CALA Homes development in 2013.

The parish council’s letter to the county council says: “Despite lengthy communications and lobbying by the elected members of Hagley, Hagley Parish Council and the residents, both before the CALA development was approved and since, there have been no material alterations made to the junctions to alleviate the concerns of the local residents and road users.

“Since the CALA development changes have been made there has been an increase in road traffic accidents and near misses and an increase in accidents which needed the emergency services to attend.

“Hagley Parish Council would like a formal response to the actions that the county council is taking to correct the situation, when these will be completed and other measures that will be taken to alleviate the numerous road access issues across Hagley and to reduce the risk of fatal injury.”

But with Ms Marchant away, the campaigners instead met with Nigel Hudson, head of strategic infrastructure and economy for Worcestershire County Council, who accepted the letter on the CEO’s behalf.

Mr Hudson said: “We met the county councillor for Hagley, Hagley Parish Council and local residents to hear their concerns.

“We will continue to monitor the A456 corridor through West Hagley and consider options for improvements where appropriate.”

Cllr Colella said the meeting was “very frank and forthright”, with the group telling the county council that they felt the changes to the highway had caused “severe safety concerns” for both road users and pedestrians, as well as an increased level of congestion.

The councillor said: “The outcome of the meeting is that surveys will be conducted in early January, which will produce traffic data.

“However, we remain resolute that many of the measures taken as part of the CALA development are reversed and other long standing highways issues are addressed.

“It is ironic that little investment has made to tackle the sever traffic problems in Hagley, and when there was it made things worse.

“I personally want to see the problems raised with the highways authority tackled as a matter of urgency and for it to take a holistic approach to traffic management.”

He added: “At the moment we still only have promises, which are nothing until delivered.”

Hagley East councillor Rachel Jenkins, who is also a Worcestershire County Councillor, said council officers have “promised” her that consultants would be looking at the junction.

Cllr Jenkins said: “Right from the start of these problems I have continually been raising the issues and concerns with county council officers regarding the CALA Homes road alterations since the modifications took place and when the residents and myself noticed the adverse changes to the road system.

“I have been told at various times by county officers – for over 18 months now – that they are going to do something, then it appears the officers change their minds.

“I’ve had meetings with residents, CALA and county officers, including the chief executive, but nothing had progressed until November 17 when I met with Jon Hobbs, head of service, and from this meeting I have been promised that consultants are being drafted in to look at the roundabout and the A456/B4187 junction in Hagley Village as county do not have the experts in-house.

“This may involve new survey work and looking at what can be done to reduce the queuing into Hagley from Kidderminster.”