PLANS to improve parking facilities at County Hall have been condemned by Worcester City Council because of fears over a badger sett.

Extra CCTV cameras and lighting are due to be installed in car parks at the Worcestershire County Council headquarters, in Spetchley Road, and at the neighbouring Countryside Centre.

Under the proposals, an extra 123 lighting units would be built along with new traffic control barriers, re-surfacing and changes to footpath routes. Parking spaces would be reduced from 793 to 783.

But the plans have been roundly criticised by the city council's head of development services Stuart McNidder.

In his report to the authority's planning committee, due to meet today, he said he was "very concerned" about parts of the plans.

He said the increased lighting would have a negative impact on the look of the site and could harm wildlife habitats, especially badgers, living in the Countryside Park and Nunnery Wood nature reserve.

He added that he also had concerns about the lack of turning areas in access roads leading to the site and the limits of the CCTV which would mean parts of the County Hall car parks would "remain vulnerable".

West Mercia police echoed Mr McNidder's worries about the number of CCTV cameras and the impact of light pollution on neighbouring properties.

The county council is not required to listen to any objections from the city council when deciding matters on its land but said it was keen to listen to all stakeholder organisations.