A STRETCH of dual carriageway considered dangerous by people in Bastonford and Colletts Green has been defended by a highways officer.

It was one of the few locations on the A449 Worcester to Malvern road where safe overtaking could take place, he said in a letter to Powick Parish Council.

Removing it would increase driver frustration and lead to overtaking elsewhere, said Malvern Hills highways partnership manager Mike Davis.

Parish councillors wanted the dual carriageway between Powick crossroads and Sparrowhall Lane to be removed because of the danger to motorists entering the road from Bastonford or Colletts Green.

They said making a right turn on to the road at the end of the dual carriageway was particularly difficult because there was no central reservation to provide a safe haven during the manoeuvre.

Mr Davis suggested that a solution would be to prohibit right turns at these points.

He is to be invited to the council's next meeting for further discussion of A449 safety measures.