A zebra crossing at the centre of road safety concerns in Malvern will be improved in the new year, councillors say.

Residents and traders had raised fears that someone would be seriously injured on the crossing, which is at the junction of Worcester Road, Bellevue Terrace, Church Street and St Ann’s Road.

County and district councillor Beverley Nielsen and town mayor Clive Hooper met with Worcestershire highways chief Mike Rouse on Friday (November 17) to discuss the concerns.

Highways officers from Worcestershire County Council and the head of economic development at Malvern Hills District Council were also in attendance.

Following the visit, Highways promised to raise the issue for immediate attention, discussing options to include re-painting white stripes, new Belisha beacon posts with LED lighting surrounding the light globes along with some refurbishment of the non-skid approach paving.

Cllr Rouse, the county council's cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transport, said: “I am very pleased to be able to respond to concerns raised in the press so promptly and to visit Malvern and address the worries people have about this zebra crossing, as well as considering other priorities which local councillors have put to me and officers.”

Cllr Nielsen, county councillor for Malvern Langland and district councillor for Great Malvern, said: “I am so pleased by highways colleagues’ and Cllr Rouse’s follow-up on this issue and hope we will be able to see action taken on these concerns early in 2024.

“It was very helpful to be able to discuss [the idea of a] 20mph zone for Worcester Road, Bellevue Terrace, Church Street and some developments to help prioritise our pedestrians on these roads, as well as on Edith Walk and ongoing work to smarten up our signage.”

Cllr Hooper added: “This crossing is such an important one for the town so I’m relieved to see it being addressed today by Highways and will be following this, along with our residents, with great interest.

“I was pleased to join in discussions on how we can improve Malvern for pedestrians, visitors, and residents alike, given support for these priorities by our town council.”