FRUSTRATED residents fear their lives are being put at risk by dangerous parking as some queue to get off their own driveways.
Residents say parking problems in Spetchley Road in Worcester continue while County Hall is used as a ‘rat run’ to avoid traffic queues on Whittington Road and Southern Link Road (A4440).
Neighbours complained a year ago about driveways on Spetchley Road being blocked by cars, particularly during term time at drop-off and pick-up.
RISKS: Residents say nothing has changed since concerns were raised about Spetchley Road a year ago (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Two schools near Spetchley Road
The houses are near two schools – Nunnery Wood High School and Worcester Sixth Form College which means there are pressures at peak times.
We reported last June how some people even parked on the driveways of residents and, when challenged, responded with ‘death stares’.
We also reported how resident Michael Harding, then 79, said the hearse carrying his late wife was forced to reverse down the street after being blocked by double-parked cars following her death in April 2025.
Meanwhile, Cllr Elaine Willmore, Labour councillor for Nunnery, has been campaigning for improvements to the road but says not enough is being done by Worcestershire County Council to develop a solution.
She said: “It is simply unacceptable that the county council has failed to act on the long standing problems of congestion and speeding on Spetchley Road.
CHAOS: Issues are caused by double parked cars on Spetchley Road in Worcester (Image: Supplied by Elaine Willmore)
“Residents have been raising their concerns for years, yet nothing meaningful has been delivered.
“This inaction is putting people at risk and leaving the local community to deal with daily disruption.”
Her views were echoed by residents, including Jane Daniels, 67, who regularly visits an address on Spetchley Road to see her son, daughter-in-law and grandchild.
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She said: “Getting in and out at certain times of the day is an absolute nightmare, especially when school is coming out. It can be blocked sometimes when traffic is backed up as people park on both sides. The traffic can’t come down or come up, nobody will give way and everything just gets blocked. If they just parked on one side, it wouldn’t be so bad.”
Tim Kemp, 53 of Spetchley Road, said: “Nothing has been done for the last goodness knows how many years. It’s mostly all right, but school time is horrendous. It’s made worse by the fact that all the traffic can take a shortcut through County Hall. Most mornings, I have to queue to get out of my drive.”
Steve Fisher, a 37-year-old father-of-two described the situation on roads in the area, including Spetchley Road and Nunnery Lane, as ‘awful’ and ‘terrible’.
“You see cars queuing at the end of this drive. They can’t get past as there’s double parked cars on either side,” he said.
When the schools are on holiday, he said there was a problem with speeding with cars ‘hammering it down’. “I’ve lived here for just over a year, and it’s been pretty constant. The council building being opened up is now another rat run for through traffic. They zip through County Hall and out by St Richard’s Hospice.”
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: “We recognise the concerns raised by residents and understand the challenges, particularly at school start and finish times.
“While enforcement of speeding is a matter for local policing, we continue to work closely with partners to support road safety in the area. A number of potential measures have been carefully assessed, including parking restrictions and traffic‑calming options. In doing so, we must consider both the direct impact on Spetchley Road and the potential for unintended consequences on neighbouring streets.
“Although restricting parking may appear to be a simple solution, the evidence suggests it would likely displace the issue elsewhere, with limited long‑term benefit, given that many vehicles are stopping only briefly to drop off or pick up pupils. Introducing additional restrictions could also risk increasing vehicle speeds at quieter times. A vehicle‑activated sign is already in place to help promote safer driving behaviour.
“At this time, we are not proposing to introduce a legal order for parking restrictions on Spetchley Road. However, we will continue to monitor the situation, and work with residents and partners. We remain committed to keeping the community informed of any future developments and to maintaining safety as a priority.”
“The local Worcestershire County Councillor, Cllr Aubrey, is also in regular contact with the school regarding traffic‑related concerns, and we continue to work together to help manage pressures during peak times.”
