COUNCIL chiefs say a consultation over traffic in Worcester's Shambles area will take place "this year" after the tragic death of a woman crushed under a lorry.

Worcester City Council has revealed that over the coming months the public will be asked for their views on changes to make the area safer.

It follows the death of Sylvia Russell, who was crushed under a bin lorry in September 2014 whilst walking down the route.

Last month the driver Nathan Beauchamp, from Churchill Grove, Tewkesbury, was found not guilty by a jury of causing her death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

With the case now over, a review is kicking in to look at The Shambles' pedestrianised hours.

The review will be led at county council-level, which is responsible for highways, with Worcester City Council feeding into it.

At the moment vehicles such as delivery lorries are barred from the city's key pedestrianised areas from 10.30am to 4.30pm, but around that time there are no restrictions.

Miss Russell, of Dent Close, died on Monday, September 29 2014 near to the Argos entrance just after 9.15am.

Councillor Joy Squires, deputy leader of the city's Labour group, has been campaigning for changes ever since Miss Russell's death.

During a full council meeting, she pushed the Conservative leadership to reveal what progress is being made since the "tragic" incident.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, the leader, said a consultation will take place "later this year", telling the chamber city council officers had been in dialogue with staff at County Hall since the court case ended.

Councillor Squires then called for refuse vehicles over a certain weight to be barred from using the route, adding: "I hope the consultation will be a very thorough one and all views will be taken into account.

"Do you not agree with me that it's something all waste collection operators need to be looking at?"

Councillor Bayliss also called Miss Russell's death "a tragedy" and said he essentially agreed with her main points about needing to bring in changes.

"I do agree that if there are lessons to be learned in the future, to lessen that risk, then we should do it," he said.

"I will commit to making sure we will do whatever we can to minimise those risks in the future."

Councillor Squires did a poll last year revealing that most members of the public want longer pedestrianised hours, with 70 per cent backing change.

Of the 224 respondents more than half of them, 157, called for Worcester's pedestrianised areas to ban vehicles as early as 8am.