Row over college entrance

A row has broken out over a new entrance planned for Dudley College which neighbours say will shatter the peace in a quiet residential street.

Residents in Gervase Drive say plans to open up a new road into the college will increase traffic and threaten the safety of children playing in the street.

Residents fear the proposed service road from Gervase Drive will lead to the college's car park and will mean cars flood the street during rush hours.

At present, the only way in and out of the car park is via the Broadway but neighbours say students and teachers will use the new road as a rat run to try and avoid the jams.

Patrick Laight, who lives next door to the college, accused bosses of sneaking in the application by the back door.

"The college is saying it needs another service road for the lorries that pick up the skips and rubbish bins, but it doesn't," he said.

However, John Scott, the college's deputy principal, insisted residents had no reason to be concerned and invited anyone with worries to speak to the college.

"There's nothing underhand or sinister about these proposals at all," he said. "We want to open up the second service road to allow lorries picking up skips."