I NOTE with considerable disquiet that plans are afoot to spend £30,000 of the city's sparse finances upon a feasibility study into redeveloping and enlarging the car park next to the Cathedral.

I am glad to see that, for once, our MP Mike Foster is speaking out against a scheme that sits very uncomfortably alongside the county council's endeavours to promote sustainable transport use in the city.

Moreover, it is evident that the people of Worcester, many of whom are currently trying to ease the city's congestion problems by car sharing, cycling or catching the bus, are not in favour of the scheme. Does the city council's continued pursuance of the plan further indicate that their main priority is chasing short-term income generation from tourists and visiting shoppers, at the expense of the quality of life of Worcester's citizens?

Their actions over the redevelopment of the High Street - more corporate chain stores, fewer trees - certainly suggested so. Worcester certainly needs the money brought into the city by tourists and shoppers, but to keep the city moving, they also need to be encouraged to travel by public transport. This is why Worcester Green Party welcomed the recent Worcester Express initiative, and why we are so disappointed with the city council's latest plan.

Enlarging the city's car parking capacity will only encourage increased car use, and the city will continue to grind rather than flow.

JAMES ROBERTS,

Transport Spokesperson

Worcester Green Party.