Objections to care home in Worcester

Residents living near to a proposed new care home say the “overpowering” building would cause destroy one of the city’s few remaining green spaces.

Arden Croft has put forward plans which would see a new 61-bed care home built on land off the busy London Road in Worcester.

Neighbours close by say the wildlife-filled green space would be destroyed if the care home is allowed to be built.

Dozens of objections have been lodged with Worcester City Council also bemoaning the traffic chaos the new care home would cause on the already congested London Road.

A number of trees on the land would be chopped down to make way for the care home.

Objecting to the plan, Stella Downing of Lark Hill said: “The development of a care home and its accompanying large car park would significantly affect this important green space where natural habitats flourish, including ancient trees, owls, badgers and foxes.

“This area is relatively free of light pollution, however the overhead lighting at night would increase this significantly.

“In addition, extra traffic moving out and onto the London Road in this particular dangerous spot in front of a rise in the road to accommodate the railway line would increase the risk of accidents.

“There are limited areas of open green places remaining in Worcester and it is an absolute privilege for us all and indeed anyone travelling down the London Road to look out onto this natural space.”

Steve Lawson of Wych Elm Close said: “London Road is a main artery into the city centre which at peak times is already too busy, added to the fact that there are several schools and colleges locally which see hundreds of students daily use the pavement which would cross the entrance to this proposed build.

“The added traffic and number of cars crossing the pavement is dangerous for both pedestrians and road users.

“The loss of green space and removal of trees would be of great detriment to the area.”

Work to build a 106-flat retirement village at the former St Mary’s Convent off nearby Battenhall Avenue was completed last year and new plans for an extra 47 apartments were submitted at the end of last year.