WORCESTER'S new-look Cathedral island has come under fire for adding to the city's pollution and congestion - all because of its small turning circle.

Last year Worcestershire County Council ripped out the old iconic roundabout and replaced it with a small strip of land to make it more pedestrian-friendly.

But the changes, designed to complement the current overhaul of the shopping plaza opposite, has led to the creation of a turning lane which does not allow lorries, HGVs and coaches through.

Bosses at County Hall say the turning space is wide enough for fire engines, with it being tested before going 'live' last year.

But Councillor Paul Denham says the changes are worsening hold-ups and pollution, with the vehicles that are unable to turn back on themselves driving up Deansway and all the way around a one-way system at Dolday before heading back.

In December some coaches taking children back to Cherry Orchard Primary School from Worcester Cathedral discovered they could not use the turning circle and ended up going over the main city bridge and all the way around the A4440 Southern Link Road to reach St Peter's because they were unfamiliar with the route.

Councillor Denham said: "It clearly wasn't thought through at all and even if you do know Worcester, if you're in a lorry you wouldn't even try turning around in Copenhagen Street.

"All you would do is go straight around the one-way system, adding to pollution."

He also raised it during a full council meeting yesterday, asking what impact it would have on the Dolday's air quality, where an action plan is meant to be in place to improve it.

He told the chamber it would worsen an area which is already "high pollution".

Councillor John Smith, the cabinet member for highways, said: "As far as air quality is concerned, I am not aware of any issues."

Jon Fraser, head of highways at the council, told your Worcester News the new design was a deliberate move to make it more pedestrian-friendly.

Investors Salmon Harvester is sinking £20 million into transforming the old plaza, with an array of restaurants due to face out onto a new public piazza due for completion next year.

Mr Fraser said today: "The whole intention was to reduce the carriageway and increase pedestrian space, we got in a fire engine to do the manoeuvre and it was fine.

"We did a consultation and as far as I'm aware this didn't come up, we also consulted with businesses, some of whom said they'd get deliveries to come in from the west side of the city.

"We'll keep it under monitor but the intention has always been to make it more pedestrian friendly."

The whole area is being renamed Cathedral Square under the revamp.

* PICTURES: Worcester's exciting £20m Cathedral Square project gathers pace