MOTORISTS will have to endure jam-packed rush-hour city streets until at least 2011 because there is no extra funding for a new bridge or bypass.

That was the main message from Worcestershire County Council to the public at a meeting to discuss the authority's preparations for road and transport development between 2006 and 2011

Paul Jameson, head of highways and transportation management said the council has also been told their Government transport budget will be £4.1m a year.

"£4.1m does not go very far. If you put it in perspective, a park-and-ride costs £2.5m and an improved junction and traffic signal cost £200,000

It means officers will have to make "some very hard decisions" when it comes to making improvements to the transport network, he said.

Solving problem road junctions, installing new traffic signals and building better public transport links might have to be discarded to keep on budget.

Instead, the council will use more of the reduced resources to coax more people out of their cars and on to public transport.

Priorities between 2006 and 2011 include improving public transport, road safety, and alleviating air quality and congestion hotspots.

A new northern bypass or a bridge across the Severn would be classed as a major scheme costing, more than £5m and would receive separate Government funding, said Mr Jameson.

"The Government has said there is no chance of extra money in the next five years, unless the money came from another source like development," said Mr Jameson.

At the meeting, members of the public were able to bring up their own transportation issues.

Bus passenger Gordon Neal said he uses the bus a couple of times a week and was concerned the service he uses has been cut from every 15 minutes to once hourly.

"If they listen to us then these meetings are worthwhile.

"Ideally, I would like to see more frequent buses.

"There doesn't seem to be anything being done about waiting around. It is the waiting that deters people from using public transport," he said.

"Now buses don't run so frequently, its much more important they run to time an not earlier - that's worse than them being late, said the pensioner from Droitwich Road.