THE huge redevelopment of Worcester's Cathedral island has come under criticism from campaigners - who say they are disgruntled by the pedestrian access plans being apparently watered down.

A group calling itself Worcester Eye, which is now active on Facebook, says it expected a better deal for a new-look crossing at the iconic site.

Under the current transformation, which will see a revamped Cathedral plaza shopping centre, a major new public piazza is being created to revitalise the area as a serious tourist draw.

One image below shows the first publicity picture about the redevelopment which was released last year, featuring a very large, bold new horizontal pedestrian crossing linking the Cathedral to the High Street.

But during the new public exhibition which took place at the Guildhall in June and July, updated drawings showed how the current crossing will remain in its original narrow setting across Deansway right next to Zizzi's Restaurant.

The county council has contacted the campaign group to explain how the original vision has had to be compromised due to many conflicting needs, including chiefly the sheer volume of traffic using the route.

The verdict has disappointed the body, which says the Cathedral Square project was a "golden opportunity" to give a pedestrian crossing better prominence.

Worcester Eye's Facebook page says it feels the Cathedral will "remain virtually isolated from Cathedral Square, due to the crossing remaining "in its current position, narrow, cramped and congested, squeezed into the top of Deansway".

A spokesman for the group said: "The pedestrian crossing should have greater priority and something else should be compromised.

"The crossing is currently in a poor location and should be moved a bit away from Deansway.

"The city would benefit enormously from a safe and welcoming route for pedestrians to move easily between Cathedral Square, the High Street and the Cathedral.

"This golden opportunity to properly connect the Cathedral to the city centre is unlikely to be repeated."

Worcestershire County Council has today defended the £1.9 million project, which has made rapid progress in recent weeks with a view to opening up in 2016.

It also says the new crossing will not require people to stop on a resting point in the middle of the road and will allow people to carry on straight over.

The bus stop and the closeness to the entrance for College Yard have also been cited for other reasons as to why the original vision could not be realised.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: "The new pedestrian crossing by the Cathedral Plaza will be the new modern style and will go straight across from one side of the road to the other – without a stop in the middle of the road as it is now.

“It's important to remember that the first proposal was an artist's impression. It isn't possible to make the new crossing as wide as in the original picture as it would conflict with the College yard entrance, as well as the bus stop.

“It is going to be much more efficient than the one now though so we look forward to when it is finished."