First look at 250-room hotel for West Midland Safari Park

This is the first glimpse of a new 250-room, safari-style hotel planned for West Midland Safari Park.

The artist's impression was unveiled at Bewdley Museum during an event for people to have their say on the bold plans, which also include an indoor water park and conference centre.

A rail link operated in partnership with the nearby Severn Valley Railway is also being proposed as part of the scheme, which will create 300 jobs.

The safari-hut-style hotel would be built near to a new road access to the site and close to the conference centre and water park.

It would offer views over parkland with a deck around the building allowing visitors to look over the site. Residents attending the consultation event said while they were broadly in favour of the plans there were some concerns about traffic problems.

People told representatives from the park's planning advisor RPS that long queues already formed outside the park at busy times such as bank holidays.

And they feared expansion of the site and increased visitor numbers would make the problem even worse.

But they were told measures to improve traffic flow were part of the plans, including the creation of an extra arm on the main roundabout on Kidderminster Road leading directly to the park.

Access will also be improved at the main entrance and people will be encouraged to use the rail link and leave cars at home.

Resident John Nicholls, aged 71, of Ludgate Avenue, Kidderminster, said: "Personally I have no problems with the plans but I have been worried about the traffic situation on the Kidderminster Road. This is already a very busy road.

"I have heard what has now been planned and I believe these measures should help the situation if the expansion goes ahead."

Fellow resident Alan Williams, 73, of Sutton Park Road, said: "I am particularly in favour of the rail link with the Severn Valley Railway. That should make a difference."

Retired nurse Gay Metti, 71, of Kidderminster Road, said: "Road measures have to be considered and I am pleased this is being taken into consideration."

RPS spokesman Richard Boother said: "We realise there is an issue on the road network outside the park and we are seeking to address this in the plans." Feedback from the event will be considered before plans are finalised and sent to Wyre Forest District Council for consideration.