A NEW design for an ‘unpopular’ city centre junction could finally be given the go-ahead.

Changes to the junction linking George Street, Hythe Bridge Street and Worcester Street are set to be confirmed nearly a year after an initial plan was first submitted.

The county council conceded current arrangements are ‘unpopular with users, especially pedestrians and cyclists’.

It said improvements should make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians, while also giving them more time to cross the road.

Current rules have been in place since 2014 when the junction was first changed because of major work being carried out in Frideswide Square.

The alterations were first implemented to take some traffic away from the square, a few hundred metres west.

The expected changes would mean motorists driving from the northern part of Worcester Street will only be able to use Hythe Bridge Street. Others using the southern part of Worcester Street would only be able to turn right into George Street.

Those using George Street would only be able to turn left into Worcester Street. All other movements from Worcester Street and George Street are currently allowed but would be banned.

A pedestrian crossing will be kept on Hythe Bridge Street. It had been dropped in original plans to 'maximise efficiency'.

The ‘teardrop’ in the road between Hythe Bridge Street and Worcester Street and the ‘bowtie’ between Worcester Street and George Street will be kept.

Detection equipment would be installed to give people crossing the road more time.

A county council report states: “Compared to now, there should be a lot fewer incidents of pedestrians crossing at the junction when a red man is showing, as wait times will be significantly shorter than now.”

Cycling groups Cyclox and Cycling UK said they oppose the design because planned waiting areas would be a ‘limited size’. They said cyclists turning right from Hythe Bridge Street into George Street would experience ‘difficulty’.

But the council said all new waiting areas will be bigger than those areas currently provided.

It said fewer cyclists are expected to need to wait at the junction in the future because of shorter waiting times.

If work is approved by the council's cabinet member for environment, Yvonne Constance, it should start in September.

It will cost £970,000, funded by the Local Growth Fund and developer contributions. It will take between four and six weeks.