RESIDENTS fear parts of their homes may get damaged by an increase in traffic if plans for a private surgery are given the green light.

Plans submitted by Albany House Surgery for a new private practice on Britannia Square have led neighbours to voice concerns over the increased traffic it will bring to the area. 

A spokesperson for the surgery said it hopes to extend its services with the new premises.

However, neighbours claim "significant damage" has already been caused to walls because they claim patients park on double yellow lines, leaving little room for lorries to pass.

Albany House Surgery hopes to extend its NHS practice to a bungalow next to the practice, which will be available for private use.

Limited parking spaces have been proposed for the extension, and the suggested car park will be for staff only.

Resident John Roger Ball said: "Any cars parked on yellow lines - legally if they have a blue badge - create access problems to large vehicles entering or leaving Albany Terrace, and frequently these big vehicles mount the pavement, and several have collided with the walls of adjacent properties causing significant damage.

"The reality is that a doctor's surgery on a residential road with narrow streets is no longer appropriate in these times of widespread car usage."

Other concerns were raised after residents claimed that existing patients block their drives with their cars and park in permit holder-only sections.

 

A spokesperson for Britannia Square Residents' Association said its main concerns are parking, traffic congestion, highway safety and pollution caused by more cars in the area.

It added: "This is a tranquil residential area with narrow streets, not designed to accommodate a modern, busy surgery with numerous daily vehicle movements and parking requirements. 

"We consider that it is totally inappropriate to change the use."

A spokesperson for Albany House Surgery said: "We've submitted a request for planning permission to extend our surgery's footprint to allow us to extend the types of services we deliver from our current premises.

"Naturally, we understand our local residents' concerns around parking and other queries submitted via the planning forum—but we're confident we can work with both residents and Worcester City Council throughout the planning process to make sure these are addressed in ways that allow Albany House to remain a key pillar of our local community, and extend the ways we provide healthcare services in Worcester."

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Farrier House Surgery, based in Farrier Street, will close for good because of "challenges with recruitment" and "rising costs".