More than £5million should be spent next year in Worcestershire on cycling provision and infrastructure.

That’s the recommendation of an influential County Hall committee - the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel - to bosses at the county council coming up with Worcestershire County Council’s budget for next year.

Chairman of the committee, Councillor Alastair Adams, said that the Highways budget, which is slated to be a significant chunk of the £65 million for highways, planning, transport and household waste, should have a portion specially ringfenced for cycling measures.

And Cllr Adams thinks it should be at £10 per head of population - with 566,000 people living in the county according to the 2011 census, that would mean spending £5.6m.

Cllr Adams, who is Conservative councillor for Littletons division near Evesham said: “Cycling is growing in this county and more and more people are taking part in it.

“It’s also part of the solution to many issues - it’s a healthy activity, and people who cycle to the railway station to commute to work are not all searching for a parking space. There is some really good work being done by quite vocal cycling groups across the county and we should be supporting this.

“I think that a ringfenced budget of £10 per person would be a good start.”

That suggestion drew support from Worcester cycling campaign group PushBike! Worcestershire.

Spokesman Mike Cooper said: “The proposal from Cllr. Adams and members of the panel for a dedicated budget for cycling facilities and infrastructure, equivalent to a minimum of £10 per annum per head of population, is welcome news for an area which, at present, has less than £1 per person being invested.

“Such funding is essential to create direct, well designed and safe routes from dormitory locations to town/city centres, to schools, places of employment and to provide facilities such as secure parking, thereby generating more journeys by bicycle, reducing congestion and vehicle pollution and supporting the local economy."

County Hall's cabinet member with responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure, Councillor Ken Pollock said: "It is important to acknowledge the many benefits that walking and cycling routes bring to the county as a whole, including improvements to health and wellbeing. Whilst Worcestershire County Council are fully committed to both current and future investment in walking and cycling, this investment must continue to be appropriate and affordable, as set out in our Corporate Plan