PEOPLE across Worcester have criticised the new City Walls Road pedestrian crossing - calling it "badly thought out".

As your Worcester News reported on Monday, a Freedom of Information Act request has revealed how the cost of the walk-over was £103,816.

After we asked readers for their views on it reaction has flooded in, with most saying the cash could have been far better spent elsewhere.

The crossing, which is controlled by lights, is 90 yards from another one and is situated near Carden Street and The Fownes Hotel.

Worcester News reader Sally Martin, 41, of Tolladine, said: "If you gave anyone in Worcester that money I reckon they'd have come up with a better idea.

"It's a waste of money, Simon Cronin is right (a Labour councillor who has criticised it)."

A fellow respondent, who called himself a "bemused Worcester resident", said: "I have only recently moved to Worcester and have lived in the city for just over a year.

"I must admit I have been surprised at the number of badly thought out so-called road improvements that seem to go on.

"The powers that be seem very 'anti the motorist' and seem to waste significant amounts of money on ill thought out and badly designed road schemes."

Reader Dianne Evans emailed us saying the existing crossing in City Walls Road was "a perfectly good one".

"Why not put this money to a better use, for example a pelican crossing by Asda in Pheasant Street, which would help the traffic flow better and stop the continual stream of cyclists and pedestrians just walking out into the path of traffic.

"Or a pelican crossing by in Croft Road to the Hive - another crossing used by cyclists and pedestrians just walking out into the path of traffic?"

Fellow reader Nicola Brant wrote: "There is already a crossing 100 yards away which people already dodge to use.

"This money would have been better spent altering the crossing between Asda and Staples, making it a pedestrian crossing then Worcester would not have the traffic congestion in that area which occurs every single day."

One reader, Paul Cummins, of Lowesmoor, wrote in to say "too many people are negative" about it, insisting it will make the road safer.

"I suspect all you will get is responses from people being critical about it, well I for one disagree," he said.

"That road can be dangerous to cross and not everyone wants to walk 100 or so yards to the old pedestrian crossing - the problem is people don't like change."

The county council, which secured the cash from central Government for it, says the idea was well-received during a consultation and insists it forms part of a longer-term plan to create a cycle route in the city.