Rainbow crossing is coming to Worcester

The rainbow crossing will be installed in support of the LGBT community and will be one of the first in the UK outside of London.

There are currently others in the likes of Bristol, Coventry and Gloucester.

The exact location within Worcester of the crossing is yet to be confirmed.

It will be installed later in the year, in the spring time when the weather has improved.

Councillor Alan Amos, Cabinet Member for highways and transport, said: “This will be a wonderful addition to the public realm, colourful and innovative.

“I’m proud that Worcestershire will be one of the first authorities to have one.

"It is also good that the rainbow happens to be a symbol of the gay community which, despite years of persecution, has made and will continue to make such a huge and valuable contribution to society.”

The colourful crossing will be installed in place of an existing, controlled crossing in Worcester's city centre.

Before the crossing is installed, the usual practical road safety aspects will be taken into consideration. 

Councillor Lynn Denham said: "I did ask about it and did some lobbying about it and shared the concept of a rainbow crossing with highways officers as they are in place in other parts of the country."

Councillor Denham believes that Rainbow Hill would be an ideal location for Worcester's rainbow crossing due to not only the name of her division but also because Worcester's most renowned LGBT bar, The Flag, is situated in Lowesmoor. 

She added: "I absolutely would welcome it.

"I think it's an absolutely wonderful idea.

"I've been championing it, my predecessor championed it."

"Celebrating diversity and inclusion is very much part of my politics and my philosophy.

"Being the County Councillor for Rainbow Hill division and having one of the pubs that is a meeting point for the LGBT community, Lowesmoor is at the bottom of Rainbow Hill the actual road is called Rainbow Hill, it just seemed a fabulous idea and a perfect fit."