CALLS are being made to protect Worcestershire's cherished archives and archaeology service - and reverse drastic cuts in opening hours.

The Conservative leadership at Worcestershire County Council is being challenged to make a series of changes under a new blueprint to safeguard the service's future.

Last year, in a desperate money-saving tactic access to the original archives was slashed from 50 hours a week to 25 to help contribute towards around £25 million of savings a year.

Following an in-house investigation, led by Labour Councillor Chris Bloore, a series of recommendations have been made to help the service, which is based at The Hive and is considered among the best in the country.

It includes:

- No more budget cuts should be made during the next four years

- Access to the archives should go up from the existing 25 hours, with the 50 per cent reduction labelled "a noticeable area of concern"

- At the moment archaeological advice is offered to district councils for free on planning applications, this should be charged for, raising around £36,000 a year

The county council is currently exploring ideas to try and develop a commercial arm of the service in the belief money can be made from it.

Over the last year more than 52,000 people visited the service, on the second floor of The Hive, and it issued 6,700 archived documents as well as handling 2,461 post or email enquiries.

Despite the cuts last year it was one of just 10 in the UK to gain 'National Archive Accreditation', the gold standard, with the report saying the service is one "the council should be proud of and trumpeting".

It was debated during a meeting of the overview, scrutiny and performance board at County Hall, where Councillor Lucy Hodgson, the cabinet member for localism and communities, said she would need time to consider each request.

"We have a very slick-performing team which has managed to deliver an excellent service with less funds," she said.

"We need to look at each of these fully."

Councillor Richard Udall, who chaired the meeting, said: "The elephant in the room is the recommendation on charging councils for planning advice."

Councillor Tom Wells, who also sits on the board, said, called the request an "incredibly reasonable" one considering it has been free until now.

The only district authority to not take the advice is Worcester City Council, which employs two archaeologists in-house.

The Conservative cabinet is expected to respond to each request in July.