BENGEWORTH business leaders are calling for radical solutions to halt the area's decline.

Evesham Chamber of Commerce members were meeting to hear Wychavon District Council's views on development of the town's river frontage.

Planning officer Denise Duggan was at the breakfast meeting on Tuesday to explain the council's concerns that piecemeal development prevented 'the full potential of the riverside frontage' being realised.

Now a full-scale consultation is in progress to gather as wide a range of views as possible, she said. But Bengeworth retailer David Alesbury urged radical development of Port Street.

He said buildings nearest the bridge should be demolished and the area landscaped into gardens with new shops, built on stilts to avoid flooding, and accessed by walkways and terraces allowing views down into Evesham.

Although many of the buildings were listed he argued that the floods had left them in a state where 'we are trying to conserve buildings we shouldn't.'

His comments were endorsed by businessman Mike Taylor, who spoke of fears that this would be another initiative which went nowhere: "Plant trees there and create cycle routes, but it won't achieve anything unless property owners are encouraged to invest through grants.

"There's a blight on the area caused by the extensive flooding in recent years and you can't change that with a lick of paint," he said.

Other speakers stressed the need to rethink the town centre traffic flow, to extend the bypass and to look at reducing traffic through Port Street.

Mrs Duggan said the process of consulting would continue with interested bodies like the Environment Agency and county council, as well as individuals and groups within the town.

A display is planned in Evesham town centre on a Friday and Saturday in the new year - possibly January 19 and 20 - for more ideas, suggestions and proposals.

The area under review includes Abbey Road as far as the telephone exchange and, possibly, the police station; Port Street as far as the cinema; the Stocks Lovell and Willmotts sites and land east of Common Road as well as Waterside.