BUS drivers fear they could knock down pedestrians in Kidderminster’s controversial town centre ‘shared space’, an operator has revealed.

Bosses at the Central Bus company, which runs the hourly 125 service that passes through the public square outside Kidderminster Town Hall, said their drivers are not happy with the new arrangement.

The shared space is part of Wyre Forest District Council’s £2million public realm project designed to help rejuvenate Kidderminster town centre and features new seating and a paved area. Pedestrians and traffic share the square and regeneration chiefs said people on foot get priority access.

But the new arrangement sparked a storm of protest from UKIP town councillors Michael Wrench and Martin Stooke, filmmaker and activist Sarah Gayton and David Bates from the National Federation of the Blind, who labelled the area dangerous.

Anne Steward, operations supervisor at Central Buses, said her drivers were unhappy about driving on the space and worried someone could get hurt.

But Ian Hardiman, Wyre Forest District Council’s cabinet member for planning and economic regeneration, said he was “surprised” to hear of the bus operator’s concerns as they formed part of the consultation exercise before the square was created.

Ms Steward said: “Our drivers are not happy at all. People are walking out in front of our buses without realising. Obviously, our staff are driving with even more care in the square but we are still concerned someone could get hurt.

“Residents and regulars in the town are better prepared, but the square attracts visitors who are not from Kidderminster and they are not aware of traffic using the area.

“We operate one journey per hour as part of our service but there is a lot of other traffic coming through the square. This really does feel like people are being put in the line of fire.”

Councillor Hardiman said: “We are surprised to hear that the bus drivers are saying they are worried about the shared space.

“The bus operators were part of the consultation process right at the beginning of the project and didn’t object to it then.

“Of course, their drivers need to take care in the area and drive respectfully towards pedestrians just like any other driver.”