IMPROVEMENT works on a major city road have been called a "waste of tax payer money".

Work on altering the junction of Norton Road and Bath Road in Worcester, and adding a toucan crossing to the latter, is not far from completion after beginning in July.

Phil Hall, who lives in Kempsey, doesn't believe the project will be an improvement.

Mr Hall said: "It's a waste of tax payer's money.

"There's all this talk about the financial blackhole we are in from the government, and I'm not sure how much these roadworks have cost the council but I don't see any improvement."

Norton Road previously split into two roads at the junction with Bath Road, and has changed to one road with a toucan crossing added onto Bath Road.

Mr Hall said: "What they've done is created a bottleneck at that junction.

"People driving up Bath Road will likely have to swing out into the other lane to turn left into the apex of the junction.

"Those coming the other way will have to cut across the junction to turn right into Norton Road.

"When I first heard that there would be work done by the council, I thought maybe they might turn the junction into a mini-roundabout.

"But to be honest, they should have left it exactly as it was before."

Worcestershire county councillor Steve Mackay, who represents St Peter's, said: "It's apparent that traffic going through the junction from either direction will go slower now.

"I wouldn't say the work has been a waste of money, there have been plenty of comments in favour of the crossing which helps pedestrians and cyclists."

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: "This crossing was jointly funded by the Worcester Towns Fund and funding secured from the Active Travel England Capability Fund.

"Ahead of funding, Active Travel England carried out a robust design review and were satisfied that it meets the relevant standards including the type of crossing that would best accommodate the levels of traffic flow already in that area, and the benefits the scheme would bring to local residents."