POSSIBLE sites for two new Worcester park-and-ride schemes have been revealed - and the public can have its say on them later this month.

Worcestershire County Council, in conjunction with environmental consultants Halcrow, has identified four sites as being the most suitable for the new facilities.

Two of the sites will be chosen after public consultation, with the first expected to be ready by 2004.

It hopes to have as many as 250,000 more people using the system annually once the sites have both been running for five years.

The council has picked two locations to the east of the city and two to the west. One of each will be used for the scheme.

The organisers of Worcester's park-and-ride initiative hope to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and are also aiming to upset as few residents as possible with the locations of the new facilities.

"We're keen to hear the views of the people of Worcester, whether they work in Worcester City or whether they are residents around the sites," said Maggie Clark, the council's sustainable transport manager.

"The current park-and-ride site brings in additional shoppers, as well as commuters, and we want to see that success repeated around the city."

The new schemes follow guidelines laid down by central government and will be paid for from its funds.

Halcrow environmental consultant Dehlia Farrow said the sites would meet the growing need for sustainable transport in the city.

"Naturally there will be people opposed to the park-and-ride schemes, but they have been endorsed by the Government. We need to get people travelling greener," she said.

City councillor Derek Prodger said he supported a scheme on the west of the city, but felt the proposed sites would not pick up most of the traffic

travelling into the city.

"I've been doing surveys of my own and a lot of the traffic is coming from Malvern," he said.

"You aren't going to get people going back along the route to get the bus. The Rushwick location is a serious concern to me.

"I would look at a site in the village of Powick - you need to put it where the traffic is."

Public consultation events:

Monday, October 14, and Tuesday, October 15: The Guildhall, High Street, Worcester. 8.30am to 4.30pm

Tuesday, October 22, and Wednesday, October 23: Rushwick Village Hall, Rushwick. Tuesday 10am to 5pm, Wednesday, 4pm to 7pm.

Thursday, October 24, and Friday, October 25: Whittington Village Hall, Whittington. Thursday, 12.30pm to 6pm, Friday, 4pm to 7pm.

The possible sites:

West: Land at the junction of the A4103, the A44 Bromyard Road and the A4440 Grove Way.

Located in Malvern Hills district.

Land at the junction of the A4440 Hams Way and the B4485 Bransford Road.

Located in Malvern Hills district.

East: Land near the junction of the A4440 Swinesherd Way and the A44 Whittington Road in Whittington.

Located within Worcester City.

On the A4440 Swinesherd Way. Located in Wychavon district.