RESIDENTS could be banned from parking outside their homes in a Bewdley street if a proposed housing development is approved, campaigners have warned.

Land speculator Gladman Developments is seeking outline planning permission from Wyre Forest District Council to build 195 properties on farm land off The Lakes Road.

And, while looking to address concerns raised by Worcestershire County Council highways officers, Gladman has proposed part of the current number 2/2L service be diverted through Baldwin Road.

But members of the Bewdley Says No to Gladman (BSNTG) group said because there is little off-street parking and residents leave their cars on the narrow road, buses wouldn’t be able to pass through without restrictions such as yellow lines to prohibit parking being introduced.

In a meeting with highways officers, representatives of Gladman said the suggested improvement to services to the proposed development would involve the bus continuing straight on at The Lakes Road/ Richmond Road junction, where it currently turns right, before resuming its route on Tudor Road, via Baldwin Road.

They added this would not have a detrimental impact to the service.

From kerb to kerb, Baldwin Road’s width measures at around 5.5 metres compared with 6.32 metres in Lyttleton Road and 6.15m in Lakes Road.

But campaigners say the width in Baldwin Road is reduced dramatically when cars are parked there to as little as 2.9 metres.

Rod Stanczyszyn Chair of BSNTG said: “Gladman have proved, once again, that they have no consideration for the local community.

“In their revised transport plan they have suggested a re-routing of the Bark Hill No 2L bus along the Lakes Road then a sharp right turn into Baldwin Road. Here the residents have no off-street parking so are forced to park on both sides of the road.

“This narrows the street so that a Diamond bus will struggle to pass through. This suggestion could easily lead to parking restrictions being put in place which would be completely unfair.

“It is obvious Gladman’s consultants have never visited this area, or if they have, they show complete contempt and disregard for existing residents of the area; they are either totally oblivious to the local situation or incompetent.”

Gladman say there is a need for more housing in Bewdley and 59 of the properties built would be affordable homes.

But their plans have been met with fierce opposition from residents worried about the impact the development would have on traffic, pollution and the landscape.

This resulted in the formation of the BSNTG, who are raising funds for their campaign via their website at http://bewdley-says-no-to-gladman.btck.co.uk/Fundraising