NEXT week one of the more significant events affecting road users in the city of Worcester comes into being. A small fleet of buses in a striking orange and purple livery takes to the streets.

What's this all about? Well, actually, it is the long-awaited state-of-the-art city Park-and-Ride scheme, due to take its first fares on Tuesday.

Seven long years in the making since the initial idea was formulated, the project has had to travel a long and winding road to get to this, hopefully, final stage.

The terminus and car paddock has been another bone of contention, at the site adjacent to the Perdiswell Leisure Centre. Both city and county councils have weathered a storm of criticism and nimbyism as the plans were formulated, but a concerted campaign over many months won the day and the scheme begins operation next week.

Now the proof of the success, or otherwise, will be seen in an appreciable reduction in the traffic negotiating this bus route.

The aim is to take 500 car journeys off the streets each day. A high target, perhaps, but one that is eminently achievable given the support of the public. And this is what is required now - public support.

This column has only recently detailed the appalling traffic chaos that brings the city to a standstill at various times in the day.

Every traffic queue is business waiting to be lost, and if we want a thriving, vibrant Worcester for the 21st Century then ways must be found to alleviate the problems.

Park-and-Ride is one answer, but not the only one, and we look forward to reporting on the next stages of this scheme - the western, and south-eastern routes.

But what we would really like to see is a far-reaching, all singing and dancing, fully integrated traffic management system for the city. One that looks at what the public wants and not just where to park their cars.

Until we get that then the damage being done to the city and the environment will continue.