THE issue of park-and-ride, which raised the hackles of so many in Worcester when the first site was proposed four years ago, is back on the agenda today.

Four sites, from which the next two park-and-ride facilities are set to be chosen, are being put forward for public consultation.

We're sure many words will be written and spoken about the merits of each proposal.

Indeed, the debate has begun already, with city councillor Derek Prodger supporting a park-and-ride on the west of the city but setting out a key objection to the sites - that they would not pick up the vast amount of traffic coming from Malvern.

Nevertheless, the county council is crystal clear in its objectives. It has the worthy aim of encouraging more people to leave their cars at home - and of upsetting as few residents as possible with the locations of the new park-and-rides.

Figures released in July showed that the number of people using the Perdiswell park-and-ride had increased by more than 70 per cent, with 2,200 cars using the site each week.

Whether that level of use would have been greater if a site at Blackpole Road had been chosen to serve the north of the city is debatable.

But with strong Government backing it's inevitable that more park-and-ride sites are on the way for Worcester. The question is whether they'll be built in the right places.