THE cost of this controversial Worcester crossing can today be revealed - a cool £103,000.

A Freedom of Information request has revealed how the pedestrian walk-over, which left drivers bemused when it suddenly sprang up in City Walls Road in June, has cost taxpayers £103,816.

The spending has been described as "a criminal waste of money" by critics, with some of them claiming barely anyone bothers to use it.

Worcestershire County Council decided to place it near the entrance to The Fownes Hotel just 90 yards from another crossing - and within spitting distance of the left turn for Carden Street, meaning some motorists have to slam on the brakes as soon as they pull out onto a hectic dual carriageway.

The council has responded to the fresh criticism by calling it an "investment for Worcester" which is part of a package of improvements.

It also insists anecdotal evidence suggests people are using the crossing, which is controlled by lights.

But Councillor Simon Cronin, who sits on the city council, said: "It's so utterly pointless and an absolutely criminal waste of public money.

"It's wrongly placed and people are just not using it.

"Once a week I go down Carden Street to visit a nice cafe down there, I go for breakfast and part of the excursion involves having a good look at the use of that crossing.

"Almost everybody you see walks over halfway between the two crossings - it's the natural thing to do.

"We never needed this crossing there in the first place."

The crossing was funded by the Department for Transport as part of a package of Worcestershire investments including improvements to train stations and bus stops.

The county council, which devised the plan, has defended its stance by saying during public consultations the crossing was not raised as concern.

A spokesman said: "The residents of Worcestershire and its elected representatives chose to support a package of investment for Worcester - of which the new crossing on City Walls Road formed part.

"The new crossing will ultimately form part of the planned city centre to Redhill route, which will provide a safe alternative to using the busy London Road for pedestrians and cyclists.

"The package of investment was fully consulted on, and forms part of the wider 'Worcester Transport Strategy' major investment."

The Freedom of Information Act response also said the £103,000 cost has come "significantly under anticipated budgets" as engineers originally estimated it at £150,000.

* What do you think of this crossing - do you walk across or not bother? Email te@worcesternews.co.uk or call 01905 742248.