NEW moves are afoot to make a popular Bewdley riverside street a no-go area for cars following years of campaigning by residents.

People living on Severnside North, a magnet for summer tourists, had all but given up hope of having their road pedestrianised when it reopened to cars last summer following two years' disruption from floods and subsequent defence work.

But the town's beat manager Nigel Barter has reopened the book in response to constant complaints about unruly drivers and people parking illegally.

About a dozen residents eager for news went to Bewdley Town Council's meeting on Monday - and mayor Frank Baillie told them he believed the project will go ahead and would herald "the start of a much better Bewdley".

When the road reopened in August following the completion of a flood barrier project launched in response to the horrendous floods of November 2000, residents were told by highways chiefs complete pedestrianisation would be impossible.

But Mr Barter told the Shuttle/Times & News: "We have moved on a little bit now.

"People are constantly saying they feel Severnside North should be pedestrianised, so we're basically going to look into the logistics of it - whether emergency vehicles will be able to get through, what inconvenience, if any, will be caused to the public, and whether we will be able to police it."

He added he had worked on the public service desk at Kidderminster Police Station for four years before coming to Bewdley two years ago and took regular calls from Severnside North residents with a range of complaints.

Frequent problems include speeding drivers and illegal parking, while the street is a haven for people who park their motorbikes alongside the river in the summer - when Mr Barter receives complaints every weekend.

"It's now been made one-way and I get reports of people driving the wrong way down there," he added.

Bewdley Town Council agreed to support the moves, with Mr Baillie predicting creating a "promenade" would boost businesses by attracting more visitors.

Severnside North resident Pat Jones said petitions pressing for pedestrianisation had collected 800 signatures over the past three or four years - and pointed out the road had essentially been closed for two years due to the floods before last summer anyway.

This view was echoed by Mr Barter - however he warned work could be ruled out once and for all if his investigation found a project unfeasible.

But he added: "Everybody seems to want it."

He is expected to file a report in two or three months.