PARKING restrictions could be lifted and a park-and-ride scheme set up to counter the loss of spaces on a Bewdley street hit by flood defence works.

As diggers moved into Severnside South this week, members of Bewdley Town Council agreed to put pressure on road bosses to find extra spaces throughout the town and set up a bus service from the Kidderminster side of the River Severn.

Paul Gittins - who put forward both motions - said finding extra spaces was vital to ensure people would continue to come into Bewdley.

He said: "There may be some places in the town where we can recommend parking restrictions be removed or the waiting times changed to allow more vehicles to park on the road.

"We would be looking for the views of the public on where these spaces could be."

Wyre Forest Highways Partnership manager Stuart Reynolds said the idea stood a chance of success, especially since 150 spaces had already been created in Kidderminster by removing restrictions such as yellow lines.

He added said: "Certainly we could relocate the spaces lost on Severnside South. If the original necessity for a restriction is no longer there a space could be created as a temporary or permanent measure."

The news comes as work began on Monday at Severnside South, which is set to lose about 40 parking spaces during the two-and-a-half year flood defence scheme.

Once work is complete, the spaces will not be returned.

A park-and-ride scheme could also be run from the Wribbenhall side of the river, the town council heard, with day trippers parking up at Bewdley High School or Wribbenhall Middle School and then getting a bus into the town.

A letter outlining the idea will be sent to car parking chiefs at Wyre Forest District Council, councillors agreed.

Preparatory work is taking place along the riverside street to ensure gas, electricity and water lines are cleared for the £7 million project to begin in the spring.