A PLAN to boost areas hit by the Rover crisis with an £8m investment, places too much emphasis on Malvern according to the leader of Bromsgrove Council, writes Melina Cannon.

Nick Psirides says the A38 technology corridor started by the Rover Taskforce concentrates too much on investing at the Defence Research Agency (DERA) and Malvern Science Park at the expense of Redditch and Bromsgrove.

The scheme was intended to encourage investment along the A38 from Birmingham University to DERA to reduce the area's dependance on the car industry.

Mr Psirides said: "Our main concern is the lack of realistic representation of the northern part of the county, a view shared by our colleagues in Redditch.

"Though ostensibly these proposals offer inclusiveness and a balance of interest it is fairly obvious to us each of the groups will be dominated by those keen to promote the DERA facility and Malvern Hills Science Park.

"We therefore propose the special interest of Bromsgrove and Redditch, and Wyre Forest if they wish, be specifically recognised and represented on the steering group by an officer whom those authorities delegate."

Redditch councillor Ron Passingham said: "It is a concern. We feel there is a lot of emphasis being put on the Malvern Science Park whereas in one sense we have more needs in the north because we have higher unemployment.

"There is a need for more jobs in places like Redditch so we are anxious investment comes into this area and our allocation of funding is not spent elsewhere."

The issue was due to be discussed at a Bromsgrove Council cabinet meeting today on Wednesday.