READERS, we're sure, will have had enough of the difficulties the floods have caused in travelling around Worcester in the past week.

So now might be just the time to consider the wider issue of traffic congestion in our city.

As we report today, a high-tech system to control traffic in Angel Place could have a wide-ranging effect on how we make our way from A to B.

There's no doubt that limiting the access cars have to the city centre will prove far from popular - if it can be achieved at all - unless there is cheap, convenient and clean public transport available.

The hope is that if such a challenging target can be reached, the environmental damage caused to Worcester by the rule of King Car can be halted.

The powers-that-be hope that the installation of electronically-controlled bollards - which will exclude cars from Angel Place between 10.30am and 4.30pm - will prove a boon for the city.

Around 200 buses, as well as emergency vehicles and other authorised traffic, have been fitted with new softwear to control the bollards.

It has been described as a revolutionary concept which, says First Midland Red's Austin Birks, will save time and improve safety.

We're sure that the majority of people in the city support him in that. But we also believe that, like us, Joe Glovemaker is keeping his fingers crossed that the technology is up to the job.

After a 10-month delay to sort out electronic glitches, important issues are on the line. If the system were to fail, the whole issue of controlling access by cars to key areas of Worcester will be called into question.

The dream of enabling buses to move swiftly around our congested city - which, let's face it, is crucial to the success of park-and-ride - could yet lie in tatters.