STUDENTS donned their thinking caps and let their imaginations run wild by redesigning Worcester's Pitchcroft.

The budding architects from Portsmouth University set about drafting new plans for the area as part of a project with Plincke Landscapes, appointed by Worcester City Council last year to revamp Cripplegate and Gheluvelt parks and the riverside area.

Central to the council's scheme is a Lottery bid for up to 70 per cent of the cost of a complete regeneration plan that could carry a £3m price tag.

Although the students' project was merely an exercise, and came about through a contact between one of their tutors and Plincke Landscapes, Jim Pithouse, a senior planner at Worcester City Council, said some of the ideas were "exciting".

"Around 95 per cent of what they propose would not happen in reality, but as students, they are unencumbered by the constraints of planners in every day life," said Mr Pithouse.

"There were some exciting ideas, such as putting mounds on Pitchcroft to create a causeway so when it floods, you can become a spectator.

"There was a nice plan for an eco-park and redeveloping the industrial estate where, as part of our policy, we would want to keep that area for employment."

The students unveiled their designs at The Guildhall on Monday evening and outlined how their plans would work.

"They realised their projects impinged on others' and that the decision they made on point A had an affect on point B," said Mr Pithouse.

"In broad terms, their chief aims were to consider ways of bringing more life to the racecourse area, to make connections between each side of the river bank, to enhance the riverside walk, to bring the park closer to town and to look at the potential for the areas north and south of Pitchcroft.

"The plans were well received at The Guildhall by the audience of councillors, those in conservation and members of UCW," he added.

Chairing the discussion that followed the unveiling, Stephen Inman, council leader and chairman of the Riverside Steering Group, described the exercise as a "positive proposal".

"The schemes challenge existing arrangements in the areas but they're certainly imaginative, radical and even controversial.

"That said, it's good that we're attracting interest in Worcester from a wider area and I'm keen to give the students all the encouragement we can."

Kate Baker, senior lecturer at the school of architecture, Portsmouth University, said:

"This exhibition is the result of a student project that took place earlier on in the year at the School of Architecture at the University of Portsmouth.

"We ran the design exercise in conjunction with Plincke Landscape who has been commissioned to carry out feasibility for the future of Pitchcroft and the surrounding areas.

"It has been a very stimulating project for all of us and we hope it will be of interest to the people in Worcester.

"One of the first tasks the students did was to take themselves on walks through the town and the flood plain area, noting possible connections that could be made.

"These then informed a more general discussion about the potential use of the area.

"If this was to be down-graded or removed, many possibilities arise, such as linking the campus of the old university college on the west side of the river with the new proposed campus near the viaduct - opening up paths into the main commercial area of the town and introducing at least one new pedestrian bridge."

She said a master plan evolved with a set of aims:

"We decided to look at the long-term possibilities for Pitchcroft and the potential for the land directly to the north and to the south.

"Our aim was to conserve this unique ecological corridor that runs through Worcester," added Ms Baker.

Proposals

AS part of the proposed Riverside development, ideas already pencilled in include:

New riverside gardens on the site of the existing lorry park at Croft Road.

A scheme to divert traffic to run under a second railway arch.

n Major upgrading of walkways and play equipment at Cripplegate and Gheluvelt.

A new cycleway linking the two parks and the possible creation of a new footbridge spanning the Severn to link the landscaped extension to Gheluvelt Park and the city's west side.

The creation of a new wetlands area at the north end of Pitchcroft designed to encourage more wildlife and wading birds.

A riverside promenade in Hylton Road is also envisaged with present car parking spaces switched to an extended car park area with access off Tybridge Street.

Master Plan

To bring more life into the racecourse area

To make more connections between each side of the riverbank

To enhance the river walk

To bring the park closer to the town

To make the town reach out to the park

To look at the potential for the areas immediately north and south of the racecourse.