MORE than £500,000 has been pledged towards transforming a flood-hit Bewdley street - but unpopular lighting plans have been shelved.

The £550,000 cash injection will be used to landscape Severnside South, which is presently being dug up to lay the foundations for a flood defence scheme.

The scheme, similar to improvements for the barrier project in neighbouring Severnside North, will include York stone slabbing and the re-introduction of Victorian features such as safety railings and new walkways.

Lighting poles put forward for this year's redesign, however, are out. Bewdley Town Council had condemned the six-metre black columns as "totally out of character with the town" while Bewdley Civic Society suggested a different scheme.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency, which is managing the project, said: "After further consultation with the civic society, town council and other interested parties, recent concerns about the design of the street lamps have been resolved and the Environment Agency has found a design that suits everyone."

The new lights will be shorter and similar to those already in place in the street and Severnside North and High Street.

The Government's regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands, have put forward the £550,000.

Its director for Worcestershire, Mark Pearce, said: "This work will compliment the reinstatement of original Georgian and Victoria features within Bewdley, restoring the original character of the town."

Project manager for the Environment Agency, Roger Prestwood, said: "This is excellent news for Bewdley as it will allow us to make the quayside so much more attractive for both residents and visitors."

The barrier project began in 2003 and is due to be completed in November.

Piling is set to finish at the end of this month and the ground beams which support the detachable flood barrier will then be installed.

Paving is scheduled to start in the spring.