A COUNCILLOR wants to plant fruit trees at the county council’s headquarters as part of a drive to boost healthy eating.

Cllr Richard Udall hopes to turn council-owned land, including that around County Hall, into community orchards, where people could pick their own fruit for free.

He plans to schedule a vote on his proposal at the next Worcestershire County Council meeting on May 17.

Cllr Udall said: “I want to see apple and pear trees planted at County Hall and at many other council-owned land and picnic sites.

“We have a duty to promote healthy lifestyles, to promote healthy eating and to encourage local produce.

“Allowing local people to harvest fruit from local authority owned trees is a great idea which could help us to help those suffering from austerity and to provide free food.

“Anything we can do to encourage healthy eating, to help people to afford healthy fruit and vegetables, has to be a good idea. We have the land, we have the ability to do it, so let’s give it a go.”

Cllr Udall, Labour’s local rural affairs spokesman, added that residents have called for more fruit trees in public places.

He said locals would be able to pick free fruit from the trees, under the plans, and said that the idea had been implemented elsewhere in the country.

However John Smith, county council cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “It’s not something I get too excited about.

“Anything like that is a fairly long-term project, it will be five or six years before they bear any fruit.

“There’s lots of places they can plant but I don’t think County Hall is the appropriate place.

“I like the open spaces at County Hall and the county park - where people walk.”

The councillor added that people are able to exercise on the land around County Hall.

Worcestershire County Council owns sites and parks near Knightwick, Bewdley, Eckington, Elmley Castle, Broadway, Hartlebury, Fladbury, Pershore, Droitwich, Malvern Wells, Rubery, near Birmingham, Stourport, and Worcester.