Cllr Cooper first raised the need for this vital resource at her second ever council meeting in 2023, demonstrating her commitment to making Worcester’s public spaces accessible to all. The communication board, strategically placed low down in the play area, is designed to be easily accessible to young children, enabling them to express themselves and participate more fully in play.

“I am absolutely delighted to see this communication board installed,” said Cllr Cooper. “It’s a small addition, but it will make a huge difference to children and adults who rely on visual communication. I’m committed to working towards making all of our playgrounds more inclusive.”

Fellow Arboretum ward councillor, Karen Lewing, echoed Cllr Cooper’s sentiments, stating, “The communication board will help so many families. It’s wonderful to see this initiative come to fruition, and I’m proud to support efforts that make our community more inclusive.”

The communication board features a range of symbols and images that children can use to express their needs and desires, fostering greater understanding and communication in the play environment.

The post New communication board in gheluvelt park appeared first on Worcester Green Party.

Councillor Louis Stephen said, “Worcester City Council declared a climate emergency all the way back in 2019, but when it comes to taking action, instead of warm words, sadly we cannot rely on Labour or Lib Dem councillors to do the right thing. To put a tiny amount of income from parking that might never materialise ahead of genuine action on reducing emissions is just wrong.” 

Despite having previously agreed to the scheme at a Planning Committee, Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors claimed that the lost car parking spaces would mean that there would not be enough capacity for cars in years to come. The scheme would only have reduced capacity by between 38 and 55 spaces, and the County Highways department raised no objections to the planning application. It had also been noted previously that the car park was only ever full during major city events such as the Victorian Christmas Fayre, with further parking and charging points available 2 minutes walk away at Tallow Hill. The electricity generated by the panels would have provided power for 12 electric vehicle charging points, as well as for lighting and lifts in the car park, with remaining energy being sold back to the grid.

Councillor Karen Lewing said “From this decision, it’s clear that councillors of other parties need to have training on Carbon Literacy as they do not understand the importance of generating our own renewable energy. This scheme would have been in line with the council’s own Environmental Sustainability strategy which aims to reduce consumption of resources, to grow the low carbon economy in the city and to ensure sustainability is embedded in business. In addition to this being a wasted opportunity, it has also now wasted a huge amount of officers’ time and resources.”

Labour councillors claimed that this project was redundant as the council already purchases “green” energy from its suppliers. “Green” energy includes energy from the Drax power station, which the BBC reported in 2024 [1] is still burning rare forest wood. Sustainability First also estimates that transmission losses from getting power from power stations to users adds £100 per annum to customer bills [2]. UK Power Networks estimate that transmission losses on the grid are responsible for 3.19 mega tonnes of CO2 per year [3]. The most efficient way to use generated electricity is to use it on site; officers estimated that all of the generated electricity for the St Martins Gate solar panels would be used on site.

Councillor Alex Mace said “The human driven climate emergency is affecting our city now. Just this winter the city has been flooded five times; here we have a proposal that would have reduced the city’s carbon footprint by five percent and given a positive rate of return from day 1. It would have produced income for years to come. Labour and their friends in the Liberal Democrats voted for declaring a climate emergency in 2019, but then voted against installing solar panels on St Martins Gate. Their words have no meaning when they won’t back them up with action. On the doorstep, residents say they are worried about how the changing climate will affect their children’s lives. By voting against this, Labour and the Liberal Democrats showed they aren’t on the side of their residents.”

Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors also voted to use £500,000 from selling off council assets to pay for the redundancy costs of staff cuts in 2025/26. This money could have been spent on solar panels to reduce the council’s carbon footprint and electricity costs; instead it is being spent on Labour and Liberal Democrat cuts.

1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68381160
2. https://sustainabilityfirst.org.uk/blog/the-cost-of-losses/
3. https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/distribution-network-energy-losses

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During a visit to Worcester on Saturday (March 8) to support Green Party candidates ahead of the May elections, Zack Polanski, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, visited  recycling business JansenMetco in Shrub Hill.

Together with city councillor and candidate for St Peter division, Louis Stephen, Zack learned about their eco-friendly metal recycling business.

Mr Polanski said: “The Green Party is always keen to support small independent businesses.

“It was good to meet Peter Jansen to hear about what his company does, but Peter also told me that he is worried about the fact that the service charge he has to pay has gone up by 60 per cent this year.

“That comes on top of a 70 per cent increase the previous year.”

Councillor Louis Stephen said: “It’s great to see the Shrub Hill area regenerated, but we must make sure we look after the small independent businesses and ensure that they are still able to thrive.

“I’m worried that we might be seeing ‘gentrification’ of the area and pricing out of long-standing firms.

“Some small businesses there might not be able to afford the new rents and service charges that are being imposed on them.”

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Cllr Andrew Cross cleared up the broken glass in Warndon Villages in Worcester using a dustpan and brush after concerns were raised in a community group.

The Green Party city councillor for Leopard Hill and county councillor for Warndon Parish warned of the dangers of not disposing of glass bottles properly.

He said: “Broken glass is a hazard to dogs and children, punctures bike and wheelchair tyres and is a pain in the backside to clear up. Please put any stray glass bottles into recycling bins before they get broken by idle hands or feet, and if you see broken glass on a path or road please report it.”

Dan Brothwell of Bike Worcester said: “Getting a puncture when out on the bike is a real pain, and is about the only thing that affects journey time.

“I’ve always got one eye on debris in the road that might need to be avoided, such as hedge cuttings, glass or litter. I’m really grateful to anyone who spots items and either moves them or cleans it up. I’ve done it myself a number of times.

“It’s got to be the best way to reduce the risk of someone getting a puncture or getting injured. It’s fantastic knowing that there are guardian angels like Andrew out and about making the world a better place. Big love.”

It is not the first time Cllr Cross has got his hands dirty. We reported how he and another Green Party councillor, Katie Collier, cleaned play equipment in Warndon while city council teams were overstretched after a storm hit.

Councillors Andrew Cross and Katie Collier decided to clean the dirty climbing wall themselves at Great Oaty Gardens play park in Warndon Villages, Worcester last December after a complaint was made about its poor condition.

(Worcester News 09/03/25)

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Zack Polanski, deputy leader of the Green Party, visited Worcester today (March 8) to help conjure up support for councillors in the upcoming county council elections. 

Mr Polanski spent the day door knocking, visiting businesses such as Pack it in and Spin the Black Circle before going to the Terabi Mosque on Lowesmoor. 

A Worcester News Reporter met with the deputy leader of the Green Party whilst he was door knocking with Clare Wratten (The Green Party candidate for Rainbow Hill and Fort Royal at the upcoming Worcestershire County Council elections).

Mr Polanski, deputy leader of the Green Party, said: “What I have found from talking to people here today in Worcester is that they are tired of their old politics.

“They feel disillusioned with 14 years of conservative underinvestment in public services, and what they were expecting from a Labour government, something different and what I’m hearing a lot is people are very disappointed. So people are naturally looking for alternatives. 

“Worcester has been a very important place for the Green Party for a long time and the Worcester Greens have been increasing their representation. In terms of the county council it would be really good to see some more greens in the room.”

Mr Polanski and Clare Wratten also stopped by the Guildhall to meet stall holders celebrating International Women’s Day. 

He added: “Renewable energy is going to be a huge part of moving away from oil and gas.

“We know we both have a climate crisis but also people’s bills have also been shooting up and rocketing up even more and that’s because of our reliance on fossil fuels and actually, we know that renewable energy is 8x cheaper than the old model.

“Where solar farms go is going to be a case by case basis and our preference is always going to be on brownfield land and to use old car parks and yes sometimes that will also involve building in places that will sometimes be unpopular but crucially we need to make sure that we are working with residents and with communities. We need to make sure that there’s proper consultation so people know that they have been heard and consultation rather than just notification.”

(Worcester News 09/03/25)

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Karen Lewing, deputy leader for the Green group and councillor for Arboretum ward said: “At the eleventh hour, the Labour Government revealed in their final settlement that they were short-changing Worcester by £160,000 in compensation for increased employer’s National Insurance Contributions. We are proud to have worked collaboratively across parties to produce this budget, but the simple fact is that the Labour Government has blown a hole in our plans at the last minute. This means further unspecified cuts to services will be required, which I cannot support. Alongside the uncertainty of local government re-organisation it is very unfair for the Government to heap more threats to staff through continued underfunding.”

Many local authorities are in a similar position to Worcester, facing inadequate funding after 14 years of Conservative austerity, increasing costs due to inflation, rises in the minimum wage and increased employers National Insurance Contributions after the Labour Government’s budget in 2024. The Labour Government is not increasing the funding of Worcester City Council in real terms, continuing Conservative austerity.

Louis Stephen, leader of Worcester City Council Green group and councillor for Battenhall ward said: “The city council is legally required to pass a balanced budget every year. This year, Worcester Labour Party have balanced the budget using a ‘Financial Sustainability Plan’, which will be used to close the near £1,000,000 gap in the council’s finances. This will see one-off grants and job cuts, across all directorates of the council, used to close that gap in the year 2025/26.”

All parties have called for better funding of local government over the last year because they know the truth: we can only continue to deliver all the services our residents want and depend on with better funding. Unfortunately the Labour Government have continued to put the brakes on local growth by starving local government of resources. Residents should ask Labour councillors why they are willing to call this out at county council meetings, but not at city council meetings.

The post Worcester Labour Party have passed a city council budget for 2025/26 that will see cuts to services appeared first on Worcester Green Party.

Tor said “I’m really pleased to be leading the walk this year. Although plenty of people know bits and pieces about the history of Worcester, women’s stories have generally been allowed to fade into the background. I want to help change that, as there are lots of fascinating female characters who have lived and worked in our city. I feel that it also links in well with the theme of International Women’s Day this year, which is ‘Accelerate Action’. Hopefully hearing about these women will inspire others to call out inequality and celebrate women’s successes.”

“Given that women’s rights are being rolled back in certain places in the world right now, for example, increasing restrictions on reproductive rights in the USA and extreme rules around women’s lives under the Taliban, it feels particularly important to mark the day this year.”

International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1911. It aims to highlight women’s achievements and the progress made towards equality, but also to raise awareness of inequality, discrimination and how far there is still to go. The walk will start at 10am and will end at the Guildhall. There attendees will be invited to join further events during the afternoon that are being organised by Worcester Trades Union Council, including music, poetry and readings and workshops. 

To book a place for this walk, please click the button below:

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As soon as the funding announcement was made Councillor Alex Kinnersley (St Clement ward) emailed the City Council to ask what alternative funding avenues are now being pursued, as the City Council had previously indicated that should Levelling Up not be available, alternative funding streams would be sought to plug the funding gap. Worcester City Council, who have already committed £140,000 for the hall renovation work, have confirmed that they are looking at an alternative funding stream, however this will need to go to committee and be considered against other projects also in need of funding. So whilst this is hopeful, it is not a guarantee of success.

Alex Kinnersley says “the Comer Hall renovation work is an excellent project that will really benefit the local community. Tor and I are really hopeful that the new funding will come through via the City Council. However there is also external funding available for these sorts of projects, and we have offered to help the Comer Gardens Hall Management Committee develop applications for external funding, as a backup, just in case the new options for funding via the city council are again un-successful. We will of course be strongly supporting this project within the City Council and hope to see the remaining funding forthcoming as soon as possible so that work can start on the building”.

A recent St Clement newsletter article talking about the project led to a local resident contacting their local councillors to share her memories of living in the flat at the hall in the 1960s, demonstrating just how embedded this building is within the local community.

The post Response to withdrawal of leveling up funding for Comer Gardens Hall renovation appeared first on Worcester Green Party.

Katie Collier, Green councillor for Leopard Hill, has called for “crucial” work done by the city council to not be lost when it becomes part of a unitary authority by April 2028.

She said: “We should focus on the work of our council that is particular relevant to children and young people that I feel that we should work to make sure is not lost.

“We need to make decisions that put children and young people’s rights front and centre.

“When considering the formation of the unitary authority, it is vital that we do not lose these voices.

“We need to collaborate with partners who place similar value and importance on the rights of children and young people to be present in decision making.”

(Worcester News 17/02/25)

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This is thanks to a successful application for a Natural Networks grant by Worcester City Council, with the funding to be used to enhance green spaces and create wildlife-friendly habitats.

As part of the project, council staff and volunteers have started planting various bulbs and shrubs across Worcester’s parks and green spaces.

10 fruit trees will also be planted in each of Gheluvelt, Fort Royal, Riverside, and Cripplegate parks, as well as at the Cotswold Way open space.

The trees will take between 10 and 15 years to reach maturity, providing a long-term benefit to the environment.

Bird and bat boxes, bee posts, and hedgehog houses will also be installed to boost biodiversity.

Some park areas will be designated as wildflower meadows, further supporting local wildlife.

Councillor Karen Lewing, vice-chair of the council’s environment committee, said: “The city council is committed to supporting the creation and restoration of wildlife-rich habitats throughout our parks.

“These efforts are part of a larger initiative to increase the ecological health of Worcester’s parks and public spaces.

“This funding allows us to take meaningful steps toward enhancing our parks and creating healthier ecosystems for both wildlife and people.

“The addition of fruit trees and new hedges will not only support biodiversity but also provide beautiful, sustainable green spaces for the community.”

She added: “Thank you to all the volunteer groups who are helping to make this project possible by planting thousands of bulbs, along with tree planting across our parks.

“Volunteers play a vital role in making sure our parks are kept looking lovely and vibrant all year round.”

Natural Networks is a partnership between Worcestershire County Council and the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.

The programme is part-funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Forestry Commission.

Councillor Emma Stokes, the county council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “I’m extremely proud of what the Natural Networks programme has achieved in Worcestershire by working closely with partners and local communities.

“The addition of more native trees and hedges, creating shelters for animals and establishing new wildflower meadows, all go a long way to maintaining and improving biodiversity across the county.”

(Worcester News 15/02/25)

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It comes at a time when nearly 2,000 people signed a petition calling for urgent action, led by the daughter of a seriously ill patient.

Cllr Katie Collier of the Green Party handed in the petition to Worcestershire County Council bosses yesterday (Thursday) as she called for County Hall car parks in Worcester to be opened up to hospital patients and their families. 

In a joint statement from Councillor Marcus Hart, cabinet member with responsibility for Corporate Services and Communications, Worcestershire County Council, and a spokesperson for the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust:

“While car park improvement work takes place at the Elgar Unit, NHS staff based at this site will temporarily use a number of allocated parking spaces at the council’s County Hall Campus. This is a temporary arrangement while essential works are carried out.

“It makes sense for both the NHS and the county council to work together to support staff parking arrangements, while the future use of County Hall is being discussed. The provision of these spaces is not expected to have an impact on the availability of parking for council staff.”

County Hall has been closed since Friday, June 21 last year when the legionella bacterium was found in the water supply, a problem compounded by parts of the building becoming inaccessible because of safety concerns over reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, known as ‘RAAC’.

The Leopard Hill city councillor spoke at the full Worcestershire County Council meeting at the Civic Centre in Pershore.

The mum-of-two said: “Congestion at Worcestershire Royal Hospital is a daily source of frustration for employees and local residents, and an additional source of stress and anguish for patients and their visitors.

“It is also worth considering the additional impact on air quality for patients, staff and local residents. A very short walk from the hugely congested hospital site is county hall, which for numerous issues has largely unused car parks.

“It seems nonsensical that a solution- even a temporary one- exists within the power of the county council and yet to date requests for visitors to the hospital to use the car parks have been refused.

“My family’s experience of this issue reflects the experiences of so many others. My dad has been seriously unwell for a few years now.

“He has had several prolonged stays in hospital, lasting some months. For my mum, travelling from Droitwich, inadequate public transport led to her being forced to drive and the congestion added stress at an already incredibly difficult time.

“I spoke recently with a midwife who works at the hospital, and works with families and premature babies.

“She disclosed that when disclosing these babies, they have to consider the time of day as they are aware that when congestion is at its peak these newborns and their families can be stuck in traffic for over an hour and a half, which could be dangerous.

“How horrific that families and hospital staff are having to consider this when making choices about care.

(Worcester News 14/02/2025)

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