ANGRY calls for a rethink have been sparked by highway chiefs' U-turn over proposals to create three disabled parking spaces in a Kidderminster town centre street.

Hoobrook county councillor Howard Martin said he was "livid" over the decision by the Highways Partnership Forum not to rubber-stamp a recommendation to create the spaces in Church Street.

The proposals, which were recommended for approval by the county's highways manager Stuart Reynolds, were endorsed by the forum last year and were expected to be given the routine go-ahead.

The forum originally rejected the scheme last year, prompting an angry attack by the then Wyre Forest MP David Lock after health professionals on Church Street said restrictions were having a "devastating" effect on disabled patients.

Councillor Martin said the refusal to allow the introduction of three one-hour parking spaces was "extremely negative" and "ill-founded."

And he has written to the highways manager to ask the forum to reconsider.

He said the provision of the spaces was needed by people with mobility problems wishing to visit businesses in Church Street, particularly since they included a dentist, optician, chiropodist and osteopath, as well as a number of solicitors.

He added: "The decision to go against the recommendation of the county's highways manager, who was suggesting the change, is ill-founded and based on presumptions it may lead to illegal parking and congestion.

"That can be addressed if it happens, but to penalise people with special needs because of what might happen hardly gives out a signal we live in a caring community."

But forum chairman Councillor Peter Carter insisted the move would cause traffic problems, saying: "It would certainly stop any of the emergency services going through."

He added there were other parking spaces nearby and if businesses believed some were needed in Church Street they could make some of their own parking spaces available.