A LOCAL historian who runs guided tours of the city has welcomed a proposal banning vehicles for longer periods from pedestrianised areas in the city centre, three years after the tragic death of a woman.

Paul Harding of Discover History says the changes are overdue.

He says he has seen numerous incidents of drivers flouting the rules while he's been out running guided history tours in the city centre.

Sylvia Russell died tragically after being in collision with a refuse lorry in The Shambles in September 2014.

Vehicles are currently banned from High Street, Broad Street, The Shambles and neighbouring streets every day between 10.30am and 4.30pm, Worcester City Council is consulting with the public on a plan to extend the ban to between 10am and 6pm.

Mr Harding said: “I reported incidents where vehicles were in the pedestrianised areas when they shouldn’t have been before Sylvia’s death.

"It was an accident waiting to happen. We are now into 2018, it is frustrating hours have not changed.

"Enforcement is also key. For the tours, we tell schools Worcester is a pedestrianised city - but I have seen taxis speeding through these areas.

"I was given a talk to a group of school children all in Hi-vis jackets. At 10 past 11 a lorry drove straight past a ‘pedestrian zone’ sign, towards us.

"We told him he wasn’t meant to be there. When you have tourists it is embarrassing to say Worcester is pedestrianised then they see these vehicles.

"I have wondered about bollards, and CCTV to stop it. It would cost money, but can you put a price on someone’s safety?”

Councillor Geoff Williams, vice chairman of Worcester City Council’s place and economic development sub-committee, said: “The city centre is a place where visitors need to feel safe. That’s why I would encourage as many people as possible to have their say on this important potential changes to traffic restrictions.”

You can leave comments at worcester.gov.uk/voiceit