A COUNCILLOR says it is "too early" to speculate whether the exit of a road in Rushwick onto a bypass will have to close after residents voiced anger at the plan.

Worcestershire county councillor Scott Richardson Brown spoke on the options being considered following the approval on appeal of 120 homes in the village, and the potential for thousands of more homes to be built in the village on land near Crown East.

At the latest meeting of Rushwick Parish Council, held on October 13, Cllr Brown told the meeting that one of options now being considered to improve road infrastructure in the village was closing the exit of Claphill Lane onto the A44 bypass.

In a post on its Facebook site the parish council wrote: "Worcestershire Highways consider Claphill Lane is too close to this new roundabout and are therefore proposing to close Claphill Lane.

"Your parish council has repeatedly objected to the new roundabout precisely because it was too close to Claphill Lane.

"The recent appeal decision to allow 120 houses to be built on land off Claphill Lane will add probably 250 cars - all of which will drive through the village.

"The planning application featured the Claphill Lane/A44 junction prominently in its transport survey."

Among the villages to voice concerns was Sion Scone who said: "Closing Claphill Lane will push far more traffic via the village, even without the new development. Let's hope they don't go ahead."

But speaking to the paper Cllr Brown said speculation on the authority's Facebook post was not helpful at this early stage.

"Logically the solution would have been to have added a fifth exit off the existing roundabout, but that is not allowed," the councillor said.

"We have to provide access to the new housing. There are limited places where the new roundabout can go.

"But you can't have a roundabout with an exit meeting Claphill Lane (straightaway).

"The initial feedback from residents is to keep Claphill Lane open - let's see if we can find an alternative solution.

"All these things need to be looked at. Widely speculating is not very helpful."

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said: "Design options for this area are being considered in line with normal processes. No decision has been made."

Rushwick Parish Council was contacted for comment but no one was available.