TRAFFIC must be slowed to make Upton "more liveable" and safer for pedestrians.

That is the view of town councillor Tim Drake, who is leading efforts to stop vehicles speeding down Tunnel Hill and along Old Street.

"People drive through Upton like bats out of hell," said Mr Drake. "You can stand outside the post office and literally be scared out of your wits."

The town council has written to Worcestershire Highways Partnership requesting the promised traffic-calming proposals.

Coun Drake believes one solution would be to narrow the road at the bottom of Tunnel Hill to slow traffic before it enters the town.

The county council proposed three sets of traffic-calming measures in May last year.

However, these were rejected by the town council, which said reducing on-street parking in Old Street and assigning right of way priorities would worsen the problems.

"The parked cars have some calming effect and if you take them away you would essentially create a dual carriageway and a free-for-all," said Coun Drake.

"A lot of money was spent on that survey and yet no-one thought to ask us what was needed."

Senior highways engineer Andy Ashfield said design specialist Halcrow was working on new proposals.