AN updated version of an ambitious plan to turn the city’s riverside into an award-winning park has been published.

The report sets out plans for Riverside Park - which stretches roughly 84 hectares from Pitchcroft in the north to Diglis in the south - until 2027.

READ MORE: Plans for Riverside Park project on display

READ MORE: Council to spend £5,000 hiring cherry picker to spot hard-to-reach gull nests in Worcester

The plan includes aims to increase visitor numbers to the area through a marketing strategy. There are aims to improve access to the area through building the new pedestrian bridge between Kepax Park and Gheluvelt Park, which is part of the wider Worcester City Plan, and improvements to Sabrina foot bridge and the regeneration of the white bridge at the lock in Diglis, and improving car parking. There are also proposals for new signs and an information board, to have “good quality standard of horticultural maintenance,” to ensure action is taken to ensure dogs and dog fowling don’t become a nuisance and to ensure the area is well maintained and clean.

We've previously reported that Worcester City Council had formally adopted a previous version of the management plan, to turn the city’s riverside into Riverside Park with a prestigious Green Flag award - which is only handed out to parks judged to meet a very high standard on categories such as cleanliness, sustainability and heritage.

In the report, vice chairman of the environment committee Cllr Andy Stafford writes: “This management plan, sets out the aspirations for the Riverside Park between now and 2027. We agree to uphold the standards of management and maintenance indicated, and the financial resources required to implement the plan successfully. I would like to thank city council staff, partners, landowners and the volunteers who are all working together to ensure this jewel at the heart of our city is sustained and improved to be enjoyed by generations to come.”