Green Group Co-leader Alex Mace said the following to this:

“The Conservative and Labour Governments have wasted millions of pounds failing to solve the backlog of asylum applications and created a system that works for no one. Refugees are trapped for months and years in hotels at great expense, unable to work and given the bare minimum to live. The British taxpayer gets incredibly poor value for money, while charlatans and fascists exploit the mess and intimidate the most desperate people. The people, and they are people, in Fownes Hotel are welcome in our country and I am proud to stand with them. If you are angry that they are there, take it up with the Government. Write to your local councillor, write to your MP. We must process the backlog. We must tackle the housing crisis, that is causing so much anger – the Government spends £20 billion a year on housing British people in rented accommodation, but won’t fund councils like ours to build its own accommodation. No more paying to delay, ignore and distract”

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By law, local authorities across England are required to have a weekly food waste collection service in place by April 2026. The government has argued the move will reduce discarded food.

However, complications with existing waste contracts and uncertainty over government funding mean no council in the two counties can currently commit to introducing the service on time.

Wychavon District Council has become the latest council to write to ministers to say it will not meet the deadline. Instead, it says collections will start from April 2028.

“I’m very frustrated about the wave of delays,” said Tor Pingree, a Green city councillor in Worcester.

“At the moment all of our food waste… goes to the incinerator, it takes a lot of fuel to burn.”

“Honestly, it’s surprising to me that we haven’t been collecting our food waste for a long time, many councils across the country are already doing it… we’re behind the curve on this one,” she said.

At present, all councils in Herefordshire and Worcestershire collect black waste bins and green recycling bins on alternate weeks.

New food waste collections – with new bins or caddies – would run alongside this, taking material to an anaerobic digester to be turned into biogas.

“Food waste currently goes in your black bin… it amounts to 35% of that black bin,” said Conservative councillor Emma Stokes, a district councillor in Wychavon.

“The idea is that by separating out, households will think more about what they’re actually throwing away,” she added.

Yet, as Wychavon’s executive board member for resources, Councillor Stokes said she had decided to delay the district’s food waste collection service until April 2028.

She said the move represented value for money for the taxpayer, and would prevent the council from breaching its current refuse collection contract.

“We’ve just asked the government to bear with us for two years to keep the contract in place,” Stokes said.

“We haven’t heard back from them.”

Because of the government’s reorganisation of local government, all of Worcestershire’s districts are due to be abolished on 1 April 2028.

Stokes said she did not also want to tie in any successor local authority to a long-term waste contract.

Read more on the BBC website

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Organisers are inviting people to “to take a nostalgic trip down memory lane” during the event at Pitchcroft on Sunday.

More than 14 sections and 170 categories of community competitions will take place, from flowers and photography to handicrafts and culinary creations.

Katie Collier, vice chair of Worcester City Council’s communities committee said the event would be the “highlight of the summer” for the city.

Activities take place on the show site from 10:00 until 17:00 BST, with a community procession at 10:30.

The day will also feature colourful displays and traditional food from the Ukrainian Community Group while the Worcestershire England Filipino Association will be among other organisations sharing their culture and community pride on the day.

The BBC will also have two stages at the event, with the BBC Hereford & Worcester Main Stage offering a variety of musical styles to get the crowd dancing.

A second stage – the BBC Upload and BBC Introducing Stage – will have a more laid-back atmosphere, showcasing up-and-coming artists.

Ms Collier said: “The Worcester Show is always a highlight of the summer — a celebration of our city’s culture, creativity and community spirit.

“With the support of partners like BBC Hereford & Worcester and the return of the fantastic Worcester Mela, we’re proud to offer a day that truly has something for everyone.”

(BBC News 09/08/25)

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Dr Emma Laurence, a lecturer in the Department of Children and Families at the University of Worcester, has been examining the recent investment in play equipment in the city.

She said, “These facilities show that we value these people in our society.”

“It gives children and young people a sense of belonging while encouraging pro-social behaviour.”

Dr Laurence, a specialist in child development, was speaking after the completion of a new pump track at Battenhall and the opening of the Play On the Way area in Warndon.

The UK’s National Playday, which highlights the importance of play for children’s health, happiness, and development, is on Wednesday, August 6.

To mark it, Play Worcester, a play advocacy group, is hosting a den building day in Gheluvelt Park.

Green Party Councillor Katie Collier, from Play Worcester, said: “We’ll be there with big foam blocks, milk crates, tarps, everything you need to let your young people’s imaginations run wild.”

The den-building activities are free and open to everyone, from toddlers upwards.

Ms Collier added: “The theme of this year’s play day is ‘spaces to play’, and we want this to be a community event.

“We’re hoping it’ll be a good prompt for people to play together as families at home.”

The activities will take place from 11am to 3pm near the Kyndfolk Café in Gheluvelt Park.

Read more on the Worcester News.

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The car parks at the empty former headquarters of Worcestershire County Council in Worcester are to be opened up to hospital staff from August 4, an agreement which will provide space for 350 plus NHS staff to park.

The agreement has been welcomed by both the county council and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester.

It is hoped the move will reduce congestion and parking issues at the main hospital site, making the experience of getting to and from the hospital less stressful for patients, visitors and staff. If staff are using the County Hall car park as part of the temporary arrangement, the aim is that more spaces for patients and visitors would become available on the main hospital site.

Cllr Andrew Cross and Cllr Katie Collier, Green Party councillors, were among those to push for the County Hall car parks to be opened up for use by the hospital late last year, organising a petition in favour of the move which garnered nearly 2,000 signatures and was handed in to the county council in February.

Both shared footage showing the Worcester hospital site gridlocked, something which affected Cllr Collier personally when her father was unwell and her mother needed to visit him.

Car park 1 at County Hall would be allocated exclusively to acute hospital staff with a warning that parking will be monitored and any unauthorised parking may result in a fine.

Meanwhile, car park 4 at County Hall will have additional reserved bays for DEFRA and Komatsu staff.

County council staff will continue to be allowed to park in car park 8 (Wildwood), car park 4 (except those bays marked for DEFRA and Komatsu) and car parks 3, 5 and 9.

Staff have also been reminded that parking at the Countryside Centre is not permitted.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council, said: “The council has agreed terms with the Worcestershire NHS Acute Hospitals Trust to temporarily make use of car parking on the County Hall site, whilst the decommissioning of County Hall takes place. This arrangement supports hospital operations by freeing up visitor parking as hospital staff will use part of the County Hall car park.”

Emma King, Director of Estates and Facilities at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said “We are delighted to announce we have agreed terms with Worcestershire County Council to secure 354 extra staff car parking spaces in Car Park 1 adjacent to the Countryside centre for staff at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. This agreement will help to reduce congestion into and out of the hospital site during peak times.”

(Worcester News 23/07/25)

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They are concerned about the looming expiration of the £2 million Children’s Hospice Grant, which runs out in March 2026.

The funding is critical to organisations such as Acorns Children’s Hospice in Worcester, which provides palliative and end-of-life care to children with life-limiting conditions.

Green Party councillors in Worcester are urging the Government to commit to long-term, sustainable funding for children’s hospices.

Councillor Hannah Cooper said: “We welcome the Mayor of Worcester’s choice to support Acorns through fundraising this year – it highlights the importance of hospice care in our city.

“But charity alone cannot replace the need for long-term public funding.

“Children’s hospices deserve financial security, not this uncertainty.”

Green councillors argue that while community fundraising support is deeply appreciated, it is no substitute for a clear, guaranteed commitment from central government.

“This is about compassion,” said Cllr Karen Lewing. “When local families are facing the unimaginable, they need to know that care will be there – not just this year, but every year.

“That means proper funding, guaranteed by the Government.”

For the first time in its 37-year history, Acorns and other hospices are facing the prospect of reducing services – or even turning families away – if national funding isn’t protected beyond next year.

Acorns chief executive Trevor Johnson said: “One thing is certain. Without this funding we will have to cut services.

“Our message to the Prime Minister and the Government is simple. It’s now in your hands.”

The Green Party group is calling on the Government to not only renew the Children’s Hospice Grant, but to put it on a long-term footing so that hospices can plan with confidence and deliver uninterrupted care for seriously ill children.

They are also encouraging residents to support a national campaign to Save the Children’s Hospice Grant by signing a petition at change.org/p/save-the-children-s-hospice-grant

(Worcester News 21/07/25)

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The Air Quality Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) adds details to the policies set out in the South Worcestershire Development Plan – a planning blueprint for the south of the county.

At a council meeting on Tuesday (July 8), the document was formally adopted by Worcester City Council.

Introducing the SPD, Councillor Hannah Cooper said air quality is “a matter of public health, quality of life, and the legacy we leave for future generations”.

“Poor air quality can lead to serious health issues, including asthma, heart disease, and even premature death,” she said.

“We cannot stand idly by while our air quality deteriorates. We must take action now.

“By adopting this SPD, we can create a framework that prioritises clean air and sustainable living. This document is not just a set of guidelines; it is a commitment to improving the health of our community and safeguarding our environment.

“Imagine a Worcester City where our children can play in parks without the worry of harmful pollutants.

“Picture our streets filled with cleaner air, where walking and cycling become safe and enjoyable modes of transport.”

Cllr Andrew Cross said: “Air quality is a fundamental human right and it disproportionately affects disadvantaged people more – they’re not able to move to areas with better air quality.

“This is another example of where Worcester is leading the way and doing things that are not being done in other districts, and with local government reorganisation I really hope progress like this is kept.”

(Worcester News 15/07/2025)

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Sarah Edwards wants to see more investment in St John’s and the surrounding area, as she fears the area west of the river could be left behind again.

She said: “I worry that, without investment, the area that I live in will start to become more and more neglected.

“There are already plenty of things that need improving, and, without money, there’s only so much the community can manage to do itself.

“In Dines Green, for example, there’s no play equipment at all, so children are missing out on facilities available in most other parts of the city.”

Ms Edwards also highlighted the broken play equipment in Cripplegate Park, reduced St John’s Library opening hours, and the rundown former Co-op building as other issues which should be addressed.

Her calls come after up to £20 million in regeneration funding was promised to Warndon West by the government last month.

Ms Edwards, who was the Green Party candidate for St John’s at the county council elections in May, said: “I would really like to see our local MP and other politicians pushing for funding in St Johns. 

“While the government is feeling generous and saying it wants to improve local areas, we should not be missing out on an opportunity for our part of Worcester to receive money too.

“With local councils struggling for money and no more central government funding being made available, we should be doing everything we can to make sure that St Johns does not miss out.”

(Worcester News 13/07/25)

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Youngsters from Cranham Primary School enjoyed testing out stepping stones, interactive game boards, a climbing frame and monkey bars at the ‘play on the way’ spot between Cranham Drive and Chedworth Close in Warndon.

There is also a performance platform and a wheelchair-accessible floor trampoline.

Worcester City Council recently completed the installation of the new play equipment which aims to encourage children to stop and have fun on their way to school.

The city council’s Place and Economic Development Committee gave the £100,000 project the green light last year as part of its Worcester Play Plan.

Coun Hannah Cooper, vice-chair of the committee, joined pupils from to try out the new play facility.

She said: “This imaginative project encourages children to walk, cycle, or scoot to school, with opportunities to stop and play along the way.

“It supports physical activity, social interaction, and brings a playful energy to everyday routines – regardless of the season.

“The natural design of the equipment also complements the environment and enhances the character of the area.”

One pupil at Cranham Primary School, said: “I really like climbing on the monkey bars and challenging myself.”

And another said: “I like going on the monkey bars, because they are fun.”

The Worcester Play Plan was launched to address the city’s shortage of children’s play spaces.

So far, it has delivered several new facilities, including a pump track at Battenhall Park, with a second track planned for Perdiswell.

Other recent improvements under the plan include new equipment Cripplegate Park and Medway Road play areas.

(Worcester News 11/07/25)

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Kevin Doesburg said he and his partner have been trying to sell the semi-detached home in The Fairway in Worcester for a year and a half but an unforeseen legal hurdle is preventing the sale from happening. 

Buyers have had to pull out because Platform Housing Group has not registered the property with HM Land Registry, he said, as he pushes for an urgent solution.

Platform has apologised for the frustration and is aiming to find a resolution.

However, he understands a legal issue with the boundary, specifically the ‘lining and fencing’, is causing the delay in registering the property and said there seems no end in sight.

The 43-year-old restaurant manager, who used to work at the sushi counter at Waitrose in London Road, is now living in Sweden with his partner, 42, and two children.

They now fear the delay is pushing them into a ‘dire situation’ financially and he has even called their predicament ‘hopeless’. 

He told the Worcester News: “We just want to finish this so we can get on with our lives.

“It’s very stressful and the expenses in Worcester are beginning to mount. Every month we are paying in Sweden and in the UK.

Read more here

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Alex Mace, a city councillor for the St Stephen ward, has been nominated to stand for deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales.

The party’s internal elections will take place this summer.

Green Party members are normally able to vote for leaders, deputies and all executive positions every two years, although the elections were exceptionally deferred in 2024 due to the general election.

Cllr Mace was elected as a city councillor in 2024 and became one of the co-leaders of the Green group on the city council earlier this year.

He has been an active Green Party member since 2015 and spent time on the campaign trail with Green MP Ellie Chowns in North Herefordshire.

“I decided to stand for deputy leader of the Green Party because I want to build on the Green Party’s success here in Worcester and replicate that across the country,” said Cllr Mace.

“We are given false choices by Labour, Reform and Conservatives: cheap energy, or net zero. That we put children into poverty or have economic growth. That we make pensioners and the disabled have to choose between heating and eating, or have good public services.

“Our political representation is at an all time low, and I want to demonstrate that we can do better. I will not accept more managed decline.”

Green Party members will vote in August and the winning candidates will be announced on September 2.

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It is disappointing and concerning to note that the MP for Worcester, Tom Collins, is not (at the time of writing) amongst the 100+ Labour ‘rebels’ who have signed an amendment to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. The amendment would give MPs an opportunity to reject this cruel piece of proposed legislation. 

The government is seeking to make fewer disabled people eligible for the Personal Independence Payment, which is a benefit designed to enable those receiving it able to live with a degree of dignity. PIP can also help with support needed in order to be able to work. 

Citizens Advice says that the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria for PIP has the potential to affect 1.3 million people. Child poverty will rise and people’s physical and mental health will be badly damaged as even more are pushed into poverty. 

The government says it will raise £5 billion per year through this measure. It’s worth noting that a wealth tax of 2% on assets over £10 million could raise £22 billion per year, but this is not even on the table.  

In the recent votes on abortion and assisted dying, Tom has clearly voted with his conscience. We urge him to do so again now and to put the welfare of the people in Worcester who voted for him before the demands of his party and his career.

Yours sincerely,

Worcester Green Party councillors

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