CALLS are being made for an overgrown hedge off a busy road in Malvern to be cut down as residents claim it is putting motorists’ lives in danger.
Almost 100 people have signed a petition urging county highways officers to tidy up the ‘messy’ shrub land on the corner of Charles Way and Pickersleigh Road.
Residents believe the size of the hedge is putting motorists in a ‘scary’ situation as they are having to creep into a main road to to check for oncoming traffic.
Work has been undertaken to cut the brambles after county councillor Tom Wells handed in the petition last week.
However, Jeanne Evans, who has lived on Charles Way for seven years, said more needs to be done to tackle the hedge.
“Quite a few people have said they have stopped using this junction because they have had near misses and even pedestrians have found going around it difficult because it is so brambly,” she said.
“It is quite scary because drivers are waiting for traffic and when there is a gap they race across this junction which is quite busy.”
Coun Val Myatt, district councillor for Pickersleigh ward, described it as ‘an accident waiting to happen’ and was unhappy with the work which have been carried out.
“I think it is a danger to vehicles exiting Charles Way as you have got to go over the white line to see where you are going,” she added.
“What they have done here is not acceptable. It is a half a job and they have not picked up the brambles either.”
Another resident Brian Richardson said it was ‘messy’ and should be cut back at least three metres to allow motorists safe access from Charles Way.
Coun Wells said he was pleased some action had been taken following the petition, but he assured residents he would keep putting pressure on highways.
“The concern is that this will require on-going maintenance at the beginning of each growing season to ensure vehicle safety when exiting Charles Way,” he said.
“This now needs to be put on a rotating annual programme of work because whether we cut that back or not it will need cutting back again.
“I will now be pressing as a county councillor and I will now be demanding the council instigate an on-going maintenance programme at this location.”
