CALLS are being made to reduce the number of parking spaces in Worcester as a way of discouraging people from driving in - and launch congestion charging.

A major seven-month review into the city's congestion is now nearing an end, with a Worcester City Council committee due to debate it this Wednesday.

The lengthy exercise has led to organisations like West Mercia Police, the Freight Transport Association, the fire service, traffic signal managers and the public being asked to put forward their views.

A 12-page summary has now been produced which will go to the scrutiny committee on Wednesday for discussion.

The public feedback included complaints over the Croft Road crossing, near the Hive, with people saying it leads to a "continuous stream of pedestrians at peak times" and stop-start tailbacks.

They also said the queue to Junction 6 of the M5 tends to stagger back for one mile every weekday morning, and elsewhere around Worcester highlighted the zebra crossing at the back of Asda, calling for its removal.

The review also led to requests to make St John's one-way - east along Bromyard Rd, south along St John's, west along Bransford Road and north along Watery Lane, suggesting all the traffic lights could then be removed.

Reducing the number of traffic lights and re-opening most of Worcester's other one-way routes, to make them two-way, was also raised as a suggestion.

During discussions with West Mercia Police, fire chiefs and Worcestershire Regulatory Services, calls were made to "consolidate" or reduce parking spaces, look at charging more, and even create more free parking outside the city to discourage people from driving in.

The debate with the emergency services also led to suggestions of looking at so-called red routes - roads where drivers are not allowed to stop, which are popular in many of the UK's larger cities.

Worcestershire Push Bike Group was also invited to give the council feedback, a campaigning body which represents cycling interests.

It called for far better signage, highlighting the likes of "Copenhagen, Utrecht, Cambridge and Bristol" as more cycle-friendly cities.

The group also said the emerging South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), which earmarks land for 28,370 homes by 2030, as well as employment sites, does not indicate "infrastructure for cyclists".

Four city councillors were involved in taking evidence for the review - Conservatives Derek Prodger and Steve Mackay alongside Labour's Geoff Williams and Lynn Denham.

Wednesday's meeting will get underway from 7pm at the Guildhall.