THE sites for Worcester's two new park-and-ride developments have been chosen - but have met opposition by some councillors.

The locations - Bransford Road roundabout to the west of the city and the RNIB New College to the east - will now be prepared for planning applications.

Worcestershire County Council's director of environmental services, Richard Wigginton, said there was a considerable preference for the New College site.

He admitted Worcester City Council was strongly opposed to the site, but said the location they preferred, in Swinesherd Way, was not an option.

Alwyn Davies, cabinet member for the environment, said no sites would meet with total agreement.

"Twenty-three sites were looked at, and we're now in a position where we are being recommended to approve these two sites and move forward to planning," he told the cabinet on Monday.

"That won't be straightforward."

Coun Colin Beardwood said the council went "through hell and back" to get a site for the existing park-and-ride in Worcester.

"It has attracted more people in to shop in Worcester," he said. "There is recognition that it has had a positive impact."

But he said Worcestershire Royal Hospital should not be connected to the park-and-ride scheme on the east.

"The hospital's policy is to make parking prices significantly higher," he said. "The park-and-ride would get totally swamped by hospital traffic."

Coun John Cairns said he totally opposed the eastern site because of the effect it would have on the view of the Malvern Hills.

"You aren't going to improve the view with this," he said. "There's also the question of access.

Inadequate

"London Road is totally inadequate for this."

Mr Wigginton told the Evening News the park-and-ride schemes were what the city needed.

"It's got congestion and traffic problems, and park-and-ride is one element in tackling that," he said.

"It's difficult to find sites for anything like this, but in order to find sites we went through an enormous list.

"The point of park-and-ride is to get buses into the centre of Worcester as quickly as possible.

"Buses have to be able to get there more quickly than cars. The Droitwich Road site has been ever so successful - it's been more successful than we'd hoped."