Car parks space boost

Money is to be spent in a bid to relieve the three traffic-choked town centres which are popular with visitors.

The £100,000 is being earmarked by Wyre Forest District Council from next year's budget to be spent on improving the number of spaces.

It is also expected to help the council's move to promote economic regeneration around the district.

In a £14 million package, proposed by the council's cabinet, funding will also be provided to supply running water to allotments across the district, to provide hanging baskets to brighten up Kidderminster town centre and to help enforce no-smoking laws.

Cleaner streets are also being promised with £35,000 to be earmarked for cleansing operations.

Concessionary travel users will also benefit from a proposed increase in the value of tokens from £25 to £30 and continued joint operations with Worcestershire County Council will help provide free bus journeys for pensioners in and around the county.

Councillor John Campion, Conservative cabinet member for finance and corporate affairs, last night announced a below-inflation budget increase for the second year running.

Last year, the burden for council tax-payers was cut by £1 million and councillor Campion said the authority was "taking steps to curb the irresponsible increases of the past".

This year, the local authority is also planning efficiency savings which it hopes will help reduce its costs by £500,000 during the coming financial year.

This funding is to be used to improve services and help keep council tax down.

Councillor Campion said: "As an administration we have a duty to the district's taxpayers to be responsible with their money and our proposals build on last year's budget successes and continue to show that the district purse is safe in our hands."

By Sue Smith