FUNDING  has been approved for a new crossing over the A38 in Droitwich.

Worcestershire County Council has been given £459,899 by Active Travel England to build a pedestrian crossing over the A38.

The scheme will see a crossing from the Westlands residential estate across the arms of the roundabout to the Roman Way Trading Estate, where Lidl and Home Bargains are currently based. 

Worcestershire county councillor Mike Rouse, cabinet member for highways and transport said: "I went to see the current situation at the A38 at the invitation of Councillor Richard Morris who has been campaigning for a crossing from Westlands across to Roman Way for some time. 

"I saw first-hand, and spoke with people, who were crossing the road at this location, and they told me how transformative a decent crossing would be for them.

"The alternative route is a long way around, so people just end up risking it across the A38.

"We need to put a crossing there.

"I am delighted that our funding bid to Active Travel England for the A38 crossing was successful.

"It will be built to LTN1/20 standard, which in plain English means it will be a crossing for walkers, cyclists and those in wheelchairs or on mobility scooters, ensuring plenty of time to cross."

This comes as Active Travel England confirmed that £12.68 million pounds would be invested into high quality walking, wheeling and cycling routes across the West Midlands.

Chris Boardman, National Active travel commissioner said: "This funding will give communities in the West Midlands safer and more enjoyable ways to travel to school, work and the shops.

"It will also help local authorities work with residents to develop plans for them.

"This will ensure that communities will reap the most benefits from projects and provide excellent value for money for councils."

"The whole community will benefit from these projects, which aim to deliver safer streets where children can travel to school independently and disabled people can travel confidently, high quality cycle routes that can be used by both grandparents and their grandkids, and pleasant places where everyone has the choice to use the transport that suits them."

Councillor Richard Morris said: "This is excellent news, it has taken longer than I hoped but this is significant progress in supporting one of my main county election promises.

"Safety must come first and I always worry when I see people looking to cross on the roundabout."