EVESHAM High Street has been chosen to feature in a groundbreaking national project on transport.

Wychavon District Council was one of seven local authorities picked for Transport 2000's three-year Revitalising Communities on Main Roads project.

The authorities will work with a team of experts to address traffic and urban design issues on selected routes.

Evesham High Street is one of the pilot schemes which will look at traffic management and improvements to the pedestrian environment to provide examples of best practice which can be rolled out to other local authorities.

Measures could include giving more space to pedestrians and cyclists, traffic calming, reduced congestion, improved crossings, tree planting and the removal of street clutter like signs and railings.

Wychavon District Council policy manager Dave Tomaney joined council members, Brian Barry of the Vale of Evesham Civic Society and Peter Luff MP in London, where actress Jenny Agutter and Transport Minister David Jamieson MP launched the scheme.

Mr Tomaney said: "It is a real achievement for Wychavon to be one of the authorities to pilot this scheme. We are leading the way for other councils to benefit from our experience and of course it will mean better roads and an improved urban environment for our residents."

5 (left to right) Wychavon policy manager Dave Tomaney, Stephen Joseph, executive director for Transport 2000, Councillor Jo Sandalls, Jenny Agutter, patron of Transport 2000, Peter Luff MP, Brian Barry, chairman of Vale of Evesham Civic Society and Wychavon chairman Councillor John Smith at the launch of the scheme in London last week.