A NEW bus lane and a one-way system are being considered for a major road running through Worcester.

Plans for Newtown Road, Ronkswood, form part of a city council scheme to compliment the arrival of new business and homes in the area with an improved road system.

The latest proposals in the Newtown Road "corridor" scheme would see bus lanes into the city, from the Woodgreen Drive roundabout to a proposed new junction at Canterbury Road west and from Ronkswood Hill west to Sherriff Street, as well as a gyratory system around Shrub Hill train station.

Landscaping on the edge of Newtown Road would also be undertaken along with pedestrian crossings at all signalised junctions.

If enough cash for the scheme is found, improvements might also be made to paths and cycle routes leading from the road.

"It is very much the same as it was 20 years ago, before 10,000 people came into the city. We need to make sure we have adequate roads and with the new hospital and Lidl there's an opportunity to build in some improvements," said cabinet member Councillor Martin Clarke.

"The county council is also talking about a park-and-ride site and they are keen to use London Road as the main access point into town. It would be impossible for a bus route there, and we've always said Newtown Road would be best."

Improvements to the area, which started in 1997, began as a series of new developments sprung up near Newtown Road.

As well as the Worcestershire Royal Hospital and the Tallow Hill retail park, a Lidl supermarket has opened on the former Co-op superstore site while the disused Ronkswood Hospital site has been earmarked for homes and businesses.

Other building works expected to begin include a Worcester Woods office complex close to Nunnery Way and development on the Tolladine goods yard.

"In 1997 the thinking was that with Warndon Villages becoming more popular, Newtown Road is getting used more and more as an arterial route," said Coun Clarke.

He added that over the next few months the public and bus companies would be consulted on the plans, to be discussed by the city council cabinet tonight, before any work began.

What do you think of the plans? Tell us your views by writing to: jp@thisisworcester.co.uk or: Voice of Worcester, Worcester Evening News, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX.