WATERSIDE restaurants and bars came out on top of a wish list for ways people in Worcester would like to see the riverside improved.

We asked residents and visitors walking along the river what they wanted to see after city councillors said they were looking at ideas to make the riverside more vibrant.

Councillors keen to pull in more tourist cash heard the riverside is the jewel in the city’s crown – and agreed it should be better.

Arthur Greenleigh, aged 53, from St John’s, welcomed the news that the city council was looking to invest but said a balance would need to be met to support city centre businesses.

“I think it’s going to be a seasonal thing,” he said.

“Perhaps it will be harder for bars and restaurants in the city during the summer if more people are eating and drinking on the riverside, then in the winter it will be the opposite.

“Anybody visiting Worcester isn’t going to want to sit near the river when it’s freezing cold or snowing like today.

“I definitely support the development though, it certainly needs something.”

Gemma Painter, from Dines Green, would build more restaurants next to the river if it was her decision.

“A couple of restaurants would be great. It would look lovely sitting outside eating a meal in the summer,” she said.

“I definitely support the idea and whatever brings more people to Worcester I’ll definitely get behind.”

Izzy Martley, a second year student at the University of Worcester, said the riverside looks beautiful but would also like to see something that would attract more people to the city.

“I’m not from Worcester but would visit family a lot when I was younger. I’ve always liked the views along the river and it is nice walking alongside it to the city in the morning.

“It needs something though, I don’t think the city uses it enough and it is definitely a jewel in the city’s crown.”

Rambler Angie Smith, aged 53, from Evesham, said: “I walk all over the country and along the river is certainly one of my favourite walks. I’ll have to wait and see what they come up with.

“Perhaps a pub or two would be great but they should be spaced out down the river.

“I don’t think putting a high concentration of new buildings whatever they are – pubs, restaurants, hotels – on one part of the river would be beneficial and then the rest just gets ignored. Get people walking.”

Chris Wise, who runs the Café Severn on the Quay – one of the few businesses already on the riverside – supported the redevelopment proposal but felt the money should also be spent on attracting people who spend time on the river and for coaches travelling to the city.

“I’m all for it but they’ve said before that they will redevelop the riverside and spent a lot of money on a consultation more than 30 years ago.”

Alan and Judy Portman who were visiting the city from Swansea called the riverside delightful but felt it was being underused.

“There isn’t much up and down the river but I wouldn’t want to see it spoilt by building things just for the sake of it,” said Mr Portman.

“Bars and restaurants are all great but it’s beautiful along here and that shouldn’t be spoiled.”

Some felt the area should be left alone and summer floods would only cause further damage.

The riverside was one of the many reasons why 57-year-old Adam Warren decided to move to Worcester from Southampton and he feels it should be left alone.

“I had a look around at a lot of places and one of the main reasons I decided on Worcester was actually because of the views along the river,” he said.

Paul Dobson, aged 53, from Worcester, said: "They should leave the area well alone.

"Every year the flooding is terrible, the water is really deep and it's dangerous.

"If they want to do something that can stop the flooding, then that would make it better."