A DRIVING instructor has raised concerns about the new layout of a road in Warndon Villages — but the council has already agreed to change it.

Drivers have called the new design of a stretch of road on Woodgreen Drive, leading to the roundabout on Cotswold Way, "confusing and dangerous".

Roadworks on Woodgreen Drive, Middle Hollow Drive and Tolladine Road have been ongoing for several months, with them all due to be finished by the end of this week.

But already drivers are criticising the outcome of the works, saying arrow markings make it unclear where drivers are supposed to go.

Ian Jones, a Worcester-based driving instructor, said: "(This road is) another example of awful planning and as a driving instructor, I wonder how many tests will be failed as it is right by the test centre.

"The only improvement is the crossing which the road didn't need to be widened for. There were no traffic issues on this road to warrant widening. Now you approach and the road looks like it becomes wider for the bus stop, so you stay out. Then it looks like the left lane is for turning into a side road. Then you get to the roundabout and find you are not in the 'appropriate' lane for going ahead to a single lane road. Or is it really a right arrow in disguise? It is confusing for drivers."

Writing on your Worcester News' Facebook page, Steve Hobbs, said: "The new layout is not only chaotic but also dangerous. We have exactly the same problems as the Ketch roundabout farce.

"There are now two lanes on Woodgreen Drive, approaching the roundabout on Cotswold Way, with the left hand lane featuring a combined straight ahead and left turn arrow while the right hand lane has a straight ahead arrow. Neither lane tells you a destination while there are no...signs next to the two lanes to tell you which lane goes where."

Sally Holmes said: "I used the new layout earlier and it's confusing and downright dangerous and I actually had a near miss on Brindley Road for exactly the reasons Steve Hobbs has mentioned."

However, Mark Thomas said he doesn't believe the road is a danger to drivers.

"It's not dangerous.

"Signs or not, two lanes entering that roundabout both are entitled to go straight on. No different to the end of the dual carriageway coming from Whittington end where you turn left for the hospital...I don't hear people moaning about it or people being killed there."

Simon Phillips echoed this comment, saying: "If people learn to drive properly this wouldn't be an issue. People blame the council for road-users' mistakes."

Worcestershire County Council cabinet member for highways, councillor John Smith, said the road markings will be removed.

He said: "As part of the ongoing Woodgreen Drive improvement works, a design review was recently carried out. The outcome of the review was that all directional road markings on the approach to the Cotswold Way island should be removed before the scheme was fully brought into use. This is now happening.

"In addition fixed directional signage is due to be installed before completion of the project, so that motorists are clear which lane they should be in as they reach the junction. This project is now in its final stages. As well as the carriageway improvements, new footways are being provided along with a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing to boost safety.

"Carriageway improvements have already been completed nearby at Middle Hollow Drive. That has also involved the installation of new traffic controls at the junction with Tolladine Road which should be in operation by the end of this week."