FREE car parking one night a week is on the cards in Worcester - as well as charges for shops that want to have A-boards and a clampdown on black sacks being left out overnight.

Your Worcester News can reveal how the city council's Conservative leadership has settled on a new wide-ranging plan to spruce up the High Street, de-clutter footpaths and boost trade.

It includes:

- Trying to launch a farmers' market in Worcester, with whichever company takes over the new-look Angel Place from December asked to stage one on a regular basis

- All shops which want to continue with A-boards will have to pay a fee to fund regular enforcement patrols, although the price has not been decided

- Free car parking one evening a week in the city centre as part of a major promotional drive to tempt people in, with the aim of settling upon a day "as soon as possible"

- Letters will be sent to city centre shops to specifically request that bags of rubbish are no longer left out overnight

- Fresh talks with Worcester's Business Improvement District over promoting the use of pop-up shops and short term leases to try and fill as many empty units as possible

The blueprint follows a lengthy city centre review in recent months, led by Labour Councillor Simon Cronin, to try and improve Worcester.

The Tory cabinet has agreed on most of his suggestions, but has rejected a recommendation to cut business rates, saying it would be legally impossible.

It has also refused to back a suggestion to fine shops which leave sacks of rubbish outside for "long periods of time", instead opting to write letters to ask them not to leave them out overnight.

On the free parking, the council is having more talks with Worcester BID in the hope as many shops as possible will agree to opening later to build up momentum for a major PR drive around the offer.

The council hopes it will boost restaurants and pubs, but also wants to get support from retailers before settling on a launch.

Bosses are also looking for the farmers' market to be included as part of the deal for the firm taking over Angel Place once the current £555,000 revamp is finished.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, deputy leader and cabinet member for economic prosperity, said: "These are areas where we all have a common interest in making progress - they are really important issues for people in the city and we think we can make a difference with it."

Worcester BID has welcomed the blueprint and says it will work with the council to make it a reality.

Adrian Field, from the BID, said: "There's a lot of detail in it and we will aim to work with businesses and the council to make sure it's put in place successfully."