New look for Worcester city centre in bid to improve transport

Foregate Street and North Quay in Worcester are both in line for much-needed improvements in a new transport strategy devised by Worcester City Council.

The strategy hopes to tackle such long-standing issues including traffic congestion, inconsistent walking and cycling routes, limited public transport, and how well roads cope with flooding.

Other measures include improving the city’s two railway stations to provide a more welcoming arrival, better routes between Shrub Hill and the city centre for pedestrians and cyclists and ensuring the bus station is more attractive and user-friendly.

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Car parks would be consolidated, so that there would be fewer but larger multi-storey car parks, with all of them in locations that are easy to reach in order to ease congestion.

PLAN: North Quay in Worcester with a potential new cycle lane and square for pedestrians (Image: Worcester City Council)

At least two of these large car parks become mobility hubs, providing immediate access to bus and cycle facilities.

Improvements to the city’s road system are also proposed in the draft strategy, including restrictions on heavy goods vehicles in the city, changes to how the Hylton Road and Quay Street roundabouts are managed on either side of Worcester Bridge, and measures to reduce the flooding risk in Croft Road.

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An improved cycling network into and throughout the city centre also forms a key part of the draft transport strategy – focussing on access to railway and bus stations and the proposed mobility hubs.

TRANSPORT: An artist's impression of the new Foregate Street in Worcester (Image: Worcester City Council)

A bike hire scheme is also currently in the works.

The council said the aims of the 20-year strategy would make the city centre’s transport system more resilient to flooding and take “serious steps” towards a “sustainable … and more safe, secure and healthy environment that is accessible to all.”

The new transport strategy has been backed by councillors in Worcester but much of the work relies on the county council’s support to become a reality.

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The joint leaders of Worcester City Council said the work would make the city centre a more attractive and appealing destination – as well as improve air quality.

Labour leader Cllr Lynn Denham said: “The proposals in the draft transport strategy will make Worcester a more attractive destination for residents and tourists, and also provide a dramatic boost to our local economy by supporting local businesses based in the city centre.

“We have already started to make positive progress in delivering the vision and we are very much looking forward to working with the county council to take the plan forward.

“As well as making the city centre easier to navigate, many of the initiatives in the strategy will help to meet the legal requirements to improve the air quality in Worcester’s city centre.”

Green leader Cllr Marjory Bisset said: “This is a long-term plan so, if it is supported by the county council, it will not bring overnight change to our city centre.

“However, in the medium term, there will be significant improvements, and our city centre will become more accessible and appealing to residents and visitors, regardless of what form of travel they choose to use.”