A DECISION is set to be made on whether a car dealer can build an MOT testing facility despite concerns about residential streets being ‘plagued’ by overspill parking.

Worcester City Council’s planning committee meets in the Guildhall on Thursday (September 21) and will be asked to rule on a plan by used car dealers Listers to convert a workshop into a space for MOT testing at its showroom off Bromyard Road in Worcester.

Bedwardine councillor Alan Amos said residential streets around the busy Bromyard Road have been ‘plagued for years’ by staff from the handful of nearby car dealerships parking in streets because not enough spaces had been provided – and the issue was only getting worse.

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Despite the concerns, highways officers at Worcestershire County Council raised no objection to the move and said they expected “no issues” and the city council’s planners have recommended the work be given the green light when the committee meets.

The number of staff on site would double to 48 with the new MOT testing facility – and the council has said that Listers would be expected to promote walking, cycling and public transport as an alternative to using the car.

Seven car parking spaces would be lost from the 80 current in place at the Bromyard Road showroom.

Cllr Amos has asked for his fellow councillors to examine the plan and make a decision – instead of the council’s officers – over the parking problems.

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“I’ve got no problem with the facilities they want to provide, I’m in favour of all of that but the reason I’ve called it in is parking,” Cllr Amos said.

“This has been rumbling on for some years with all the car showrooms, and it’s actually getting worse. What is happening is that the car showrooms don’t provide enough space for their employees, and they then park anywhere they can and it causes enormous problems in a very large area.”

Cllr Amos said it had originally caused problems in Boughton Close, on the opposite side of Bromyard Road, but the issues have now spread to Bransford Road, Willis Place, Smiths Avenue and Blakefield Road.

“All these areas are pretty tight to begin with,” he added. “It’s a growing problem and we can’t just keep going on and on with residents not even being able to park anywhere near where they live.”

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A plan for a new showroom and valet building at the site, which was previously occupied by Isuzu and Renault, was approved alongside other work by the council’s planners in May.

The work also included changes to the car park and display areas but did not mention a proposed new MOT testing facility that would be built in an existing workshop.

Listers was unavailable for comment.

However, LIisters was told it needed to include the MOT testing facility specifically in its planning application to satisfy the DVLA and resubmitted the paperwork to the council.

The council was told that Listers was “committed” to encouraging staff to use sustainable modes of travel but admitted that it was likely that staff working at a car dealership would own, and use, cars.