A SCHEME to ban vehicles from the city's pedestrianised streets for longer periods has been proposed three years after the death of a woman tragically crushed under a lorry.

A pre-consultation has been launched on the proposals from council chiefs who are also looking to axe the existing ban on cycling in the city centre.

Vehicles are currently banned from High Street, Broad Street, The Shambles and neighbouring streets every day between 10.30am and 4.30pm, but the planned new rules would see those hours being extended from 10am to 6pm.

Campaigners have long pushed for the changes following the tragic death of Sylvia Russell, who died in a collision with a refuse lorry near Argos in The Shambles, in September 2014. The authority says the aim is to improve safety in the area by banning all vehicles at times when pedestrian footfall is at its highest.

The authority also says traffic cannot be banned completely from the roads, which some have called for, as delivery vehicles need to be able to reach businesses in the area.

The authority say lifting the ban on city centre cycling between 10.30am and 4.30pm has been recommended as council staff haven't been able to enforce it, and there has been no evidence bikes in the pedestrianised areas have created any safety issues. It also brings Worcester into line with other city centres.

A pre-consultation has been launched on the proposals, giving residents the chance to have their say. The consultation can be found at worcester.gov.uk/voiceit.

Comments made will be taken into account for a draft Traffic Regulation Order to be drawn up by Worcestershire County Council, as the highways authority. This will be put out to a further period of statutory consultation later in the year.

Councillor Geoff Williams, vice chairman of Worcester City Council’s place and economic development sub-committee, said: “The city centre is a place where residents and visitors need to feel safe safe.

"That’s why I would encourage as many people as possible to have their say on this important potential change to traffic restrictions in the area."