EVER since Worcester City Council unveiled plans in 2003 to alter the road layout in front of the Cathedral, I have felt that an opportunity to improve that crucial part of the city centre might be missed.

At relatively low cost, it could be fully pedestrianised to form a tranquil square, reminiscent of those so often seen in continental cities.

College Street and the top end of Deansway could be closed to road traffic, which would be redirected along City Walls Road.

The one-way traffic flow in The Butts, Shaw Street and Sansome Street could then be reversed, to allow traffic through from City Walls Road to the river bridge.

St Nicholas Street could be restricted to buses only. Meanwhile, Castle Street could be made one-way from the river up to The Tything, and traffic heading for City Walls Road would pass along St Mary's Street and Sansome Walk, as does existing traffic from Barbourne.

Enhancing

Besides dramatically enhancing the environment in front of the Cathedral, such a plan would also reduce the existing traffic bottlenecks at the right turn from St Nicholas Street into The Foregate and at the top of Castle Street.

If in doubt about the feasibility of this idea, look no further than Oxford, which has a similar street lay-out, and a similar detour for traffic travelling across the city on an east-west axis.

One problem with a complete closure of Cathedral Square to traffic would be the loss of direct access from the fire station to Sidbury.

That is a relatively infrequently need though, and could therefore be allowed as the only exception to the traffic-free rule.

MALCOLM ALLEN,

Drakes Broughton,

Worcestershire.