MORE than 40 residents and traders packed into the Mem-orial Hall for Upton's annual town meeting on Tuesday.

The attendance was more than double that of previous years and those present took the chance to quiz town councillors and the local police about issues affecting the area.

A public forum at the end of the meeting provided more than an hour of lively debate, with several traders expressing concerns about a series of alterations to Upton's roads and pavements.

Worcestershire County Council's highways department has submitted plans for traffic calming in Upton town centre, widening pavements at several junctions and placing one-way restrictions on sections of Court Street and Dunns Lane.

A start date for the work has yet to be agreed, however the one-way restrictions will come into force on May 6 for a trial period of six months.

While there was general support for the scheme at the meeting, several traders voiced concerns that any roadworks carried out over the summer months could be harmful to their businesses.

Gail Mikitczuk, of Perfect Ten, said: "I thought that the aim was to get trade back into Upton and make it a better summer than we had last year after the floods."

Louise Orr, of PS Presents, added: "If we don't have access into the town then it will die."

Town mayor Tim Perry said the programme had been in the pipeline for three or four years and assured traders that no start date had been agreed.

The idea of pushing a "shop local" message was also suggested at the meeting, with traders and the town council working together to bring more people into Upton and bring trade back from neighbouring towns and big supermarkets.

With a lack of parking spaces identified as a concern, the town council is to discuss improved signposting to the free parking it provides at the sports ground. It will also approach Malvern Hills District Council over the possibility of providing a certain amount of free short-term parking at the Hanley Road car park.