A ROAD could be built through a car park if a councillor's plans to reopen a popular thoroughfare are successful.

The councillor intends to table a motion outlining ways to reopen the rear entrance to Upton's Hanley Road car park.

Campaigners say the entrance is key to alleviating traffic in the town's high street, as it enables drivers to cross between New Street and Hanley Road.

Malvern Hills District Council erected a metal barrier across the entrance in August, after safety concerns were detailed in a RoSPA report.

Mike Morgan, district councillor for Upton, hopes to offer the district council two solutions in a motion at February's meeting.

Cllr Morgan said: "The motion is to get the thoroughfare opened as cheaply and safely as possible.

"Either a proper report should be prepared as to how the entrance should be kept open and made safe.

"Or if they can't do a report due to cost, let's find out whether having a road across there is possible.

"We feel that closing it [the entrance] was a knee-jerk reaction. It won't cost much to get a few reports."

Cllr Morgan says that RoSPA was not the right organisation for a report on car park safety.

The councillor decided on a motion after a petition against the entrance closure was presented at December's district council meeting.

Cllr Phil Grove, leader of the district council, said the document was not recognisable as a petition because many of the respondents could not be identified.

However the councillor said he would ask county council officers to explore ways to connect New Street and Hanley Road.

He warned that a safe solution may come at the cost of a smaller car park; and the loss of HGV parking and the recycling site.

Michael Ostick, vice chairman of Upton Town Partnership, said the petition was an 'honest' document and should not be ignored on technical grounds.

Mr Ostick said: "Upton has spoken very factually about the need to reopen this access. We sincerely hope Malvern Hills District Council will pay attention to local concerns."

Campaigners against the entrance closure say it has turned New Street into a one way road with parked cars and has also made the junction with High Street more dangerous.

The petition was carried out on survey monkey and received 731 responses.