A PACKAGE of measures has been announced in a bid to tackle Kidderminster's car parking crisis.

Possibilities include a park-and-ride scheme to stem the short-term problems when more than 800 spaces are lost with the demolition of the Pitts Lane and Market Street multi-storey car parks and the Kidderminster College move to the town centre.

Charges will also form part of the changes to be considered by Wyre Forest district councillors at tonight's meeting of the environment and development overview and scrutiny committee.

Councillors will consider parking charge increases from 25p to 30p for half an hour, 45p to 50p for one hour, 65p to 70p for two hours, and £1.30 to £1.40 for three-hour stays. All-day charges will go up 40p from £2.60 to £3.

The town faces a short-term reduction in spaces of 3,686 to 2,835 while various building work is carried out. But when works are completed the overall figure will be 4,288 spaces - a rise of 16 per cent.

The proposed £25,000 peak time park-and-ride scheme into the town centre is likely to operate from car parks in Broadwaters Drive and Stadium Close, with possible stops at Crossley Park.

The popular restricted season tickets will no longer be available for multi-storey car parks, but will continue at other sites in Stadium Close and Castle Road. Full season tickets will continue as normal.

Council cultural, leisure and commercial services chief Andrew Dickens said the new charges were likely to come into force in July or August.

He added the council was putting in extra capital to improve surfaces, lighting and access in car parks.

Council leader Mike Oborski said: "When everything is completed there will be a 16 per cent increase in parking spaces, and many college students will use the new bars created in the development to bring life to Kidderminster town centre in the evening."

The situation will ease late this year and early in 2002 when Tesco provides 600 spaces as part of its KTC1 store and a further 500 are created at the B & Q store in Green Street. The new college site will also have 85 new spaces when it is built in September 2002.

After tonight's meeting, the council's policy and implementation committee will consider the proposals next Thursday, before the final package goes forward to the council budget-fixing debate on February 28.