A PROJECT to improve a Worcester conservation area is to launch to help protect its special status.

Worcester City Council has just completed a review of Claines Conservation Area, including examining if its boundary needs to be revised.

The work is now expected to lead to improvements to some buildings, lobbying of private home owners to encourage the use of better windows, and the possibility of traffic calming.

Planning officers decided to launch the review of Claines several months ago to consider if the 'conservation area' tag is being kept true.

A new report has now been published detailing a series of "management proposals" for its "preservation and enhancement".

It cites some damage to tombs and memorials at Claines churchyard, a city council-owned site which will now have its drainage repaired.

The document also criticises the car park at Claines Church Institute, saying poor quality surfacing and the low-grade appearance of litter bins are giving "a negative appearance".

Talks will take place with the owner of the site about what can be done to improve the surface and possibly relocate the bins.

It also mentions the traffic down Claines Lane, saying the route is used as a rat-run between Droitwich Road and the A449, "creating excessive traffic through the village often at speed".

Worcestershire County Council could be asked to consider traffic calming options to slow cars down.

In other measures, an application will be made to Historic England to get the war memorial at Claines churchyard on a national designation list.

The report also said some housing extensions and windows in Cornmeadow Lane and Claines Lane are "not appropriate" for a conservation area, with planning officers told to encourage more traditional styles in the future.

It calls Claines "a special interest" to the public because of its immediate rural landscape, despite being so close to the city centre.

It also has 10 listed buildings including The Mug House pub, St John Baptist Church, Church Farm Cottage and the Wakeman Memorial, a mid-19th century Greek revival-style stone chest tomb.

The city council's planning committee has endorsed the report, calling it "a very good piece of work".

Cllr Andy Stafford, who represents Claines, said: "It's a very thorough document and a lot of work has gone into it."

Cllr Pat Agar called it "a joy to read", while Cllr Roger Berry said the roads system is "a tragedy" and criticised the amount of cars that are allowed to speed through it unchecked.