COUNCIL chiefs in Worcester have been urged to do more for cyclists - after admitting a £10,000 kitty for new storage racks has sat idle for months.

Back in February your Worcester News revealed how the city council had earmarked a £10,000 fund for extra cycling facilities at key locations.

The money was drawn up to place new storage racks around the city in places where cyclists may be keen to 'park up'.

But nine months on, not a single penny has been spent yet despite regular concerns about Worcester's congestion.

The authority has cited some concern over anti-social behaviour, saying it does not want to end up placing storage facilities in places where troublemakers may damage them.

But the lack of spending has been criticised by Labour councillors, who claim bosses have "done very little" so far.

Labour Councillor Paul Denham, speaking during a full council meeting, asked the Conservative leadership "what progress has been made during the past nine months".

Tory Councillor Marc Bayliss, the deputy leader and cabinet member responsible for the city centre and riverside, "a number of potential locations have been discussed" but "no sites have yet been identified by officers".

Councillor Denham called it a "long winded way of saying you've done very little", telling him cycle theft is a major issue in the city.

He also urged him to spend the cash, saying it would increase cycling's popularity, help ease congestion and cut pollution.

The Tory leadership has offered to work with Labour to identify suitable sites, an offer made by Councillor Bayliss.

He said: "I have a lot of sympathy and largely agree with what (Councillor Denham) has said, but there are some occasions where cycle storage facilities have been identified with anti-social behaviour.

"It's about getting the right balance between identifying the right areas to spend this money, and not ones where it could increase anti-social behaviour.

"But I repeat my offer to meet with him and work with him on this."

During the debate he also said when the £10,000 fund was agreed, no specific timescales were put on when it should be used by.

The original decision to draw up the funding was inspired by the shiny storage racks at Foregate Street Railway Station.

Those steel racks have proved so popular they are often spotted brimming with bicycles, leading to suggestions from Labour that Worcester needed more.

At the time Councillor Simon Geraghty, the Conservative leader, said it was "above politics" and agreed to take the idea on board.